NUCLEAR BLAST ROCKS ARTIC WILDERNESS

From the New York Times:

A Nuclear explosion of unknown origin was detected in the arctic wilderness this morning, approximately 230 miles from the nearest inhabited area. The blast was a small megaton bomb, with approximately only .4 the destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb. At present, world scientists are rushing to the area, but it is unknown who detonated the blast, whether it was an accident, an act of war, or an act of terror. It is not believed that anyone was killed in the blast.

Scientists from the climatology institute at UC Berkeley report that studies have already begun as to the effects the radiation will have on local wildlife, and whether the blast and resulting heat signature will cause global effects. "It is not my view at present that a blast of this small size will create widespread melting of the arctic ice sheet, but it will have long ranging effects on ocean temperature and the stability of the artic ice region, which was already stressed with global warming. We will study the situation, of course.