Spotlight: Early Arctic Thaw Could Have Chilling Effect
September 29, 2003

Spring will be coming early next year to the great forests and tundra of the Arctic. Good for the vegetation, but perhaps not so good for the atmosphere.

Spring in the high latitudes has been coming earlier in the past few decades. The early thaw means a longer growing season for the Arctic and the boreal forest, the ring of mostly evergreen trees that stretches across the northern reaches of North America and Eurasia. It also means that more carbon, now stored in the region's usually frozen soils, may be released into the air.

More: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/thaw-092903.cfm

I heard on CNN this morning that Fall is late this year (hopefully, no more hurricanes).