This still and animation of global SST anomalies suggests undersea volcanic activity, enough to affect local sea surface temperatures significantly. In polar regions, volcanic activity could melt ice from underneath and diminish levels measurably, it would appear. Note the apparent volcanic activity off the east coast of South America, and to the northeast of Japan. As can be seen from the animation, arctic SST show more anomalous deviations; this could be either volcanic in origin, or heightened anomalies due to proximity of polar landmasses and the fluctuations of the Arctic ocean - Antarctica fluctuates more as a landmass, but is isolated and surrounded by a far less fluctuating ocean.

Page built 7th March 2009