Just a quick comment on Arctic amplification. I sent Steve a couple of images for the month of September that show amplified warming over the Arctic, focused over the areas of ice loss, but also extending with height in the atmosphere and spread out over a larger area. As there is more open water in September, before the Ocean can once again refreeze in winter it must first release the heat it gained during summer. This will be seen in amplified warming of near surface air temperatures, extending with height in the atmosphere. The last several years have shown anomalously warm autumn temperatures related to more open water in September.

NSIDC briefly discussed the apparent paradox of rapid autumn ice growth and amplified warming (nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/111008.html)

Note From Steve : NSIDC’s website is down now and I can’t post this discussion yet.