Regarding Michael Richardson's Oct. 18 opinion piece "Is geography behind sea-ice paradox?": First, let's be clear that climate is changing, as it has throughout the course of history. However, the author seems blind to some rather obvious issues. For example, the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest ocean, whereas Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the fourth largest ocean.
Given the absorption of sunlight by water, one would expect the Arctic Ocean to warm more than the Antarctic for a given increase in global temperature.
Isn't the real issue the average total volume of ice at both poles?
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
andrew allison
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