This is evident, for example, in the rapid thinning seen of late in the mighty Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica.

BBC: Antarctic ice volume measured

We headed to Wild Honey, which appeared to be the poshest restaurant in town, and ordered dirty martinis with blue-cheese olives and a dozen local Pine Island oysters with pineapple mignonette.

BBC: The Bureau of Unknown Destinations

Kavala is also the port from where ferries leave for the popular, pine-scented island of Thasos.

BBC: Driving Greece's modern ancient highway, the Egnatia Odos

It is the Ibiza the ancient Greeks used to call the 'pine-covered island', a fertile land where almost every patch of soil is filled with trees bearing different fruits - figs, quinces, lemons, carob seeds and almonds - so that the surrounding air is perfumed with their ripening scent.

BBC: The three colours of Ibiza

We thumbed our phones trying to getting a signal, exchanged texts and surfed Twitter for storm updates, both for our location in lower Westchester County in New York, and for the traditional summer stomping grounds of Beach Haven, New Jersey, a spot of barrier island off the pine barrens where my toes have met sand and salt since the 1960s.

FORBES: The Big Lesson of #Sandy: Connectivity Matters in an Emergency

Klement island fringed with fragrant pine trees.

WSJ: Island-Hopping in Sweden, the BVIs, Washington State and Croatia

Despite the influx of daytrippers, the island of Porquerolles is wholly unspoilt: most of its white sandy beaches and pine woods are protected by the Parc National de Port-Cros.

BBC: Mini guide to coastal C?te d��Azur