Rowan has noted, with some angst, the passing of a bill to create a coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the National Aeronautic and Space Adminsitration (NASA). Well, it seems that a lot was going on 50 years ago.

Another commemorative piece of legislation, H.RES.1067, introduced by Representative Joe Courtney, marks the 50th anniversary of the USS Nautilus, a submarine that was the first ocean-going craft to cross the North Pole.

An irony that was not noted in H.RES.1067 is that this year, a boat might be able to cross the North Pole without going beneath the ice. The North Pole is expected to become ice-free for the first time in historical memory.

Today’s update by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) describes “a continuation of dramatic sea ice loss.” How dramatic? Well, some models suggest that the loss will be less dramatic than what occurred last year. Other models suggest that the loss of ice will be more dramatic. We’ll have to wait and see.

Photographs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that the melt at the North Pole has already begun, however. The following picture was taken just a few hours ago. The water it shows is coming from melt that’s taking place from the top. How long before it reaches all the way down to the water below? I’ll keep an eye on the melt’s expansion.

In the meantime, here’s a movie of the North Pole - created by NOAA from a series of photographs taken by another camera at the North Pole between April and June 4th. Sorry, no Santa Claus.