Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean naturally shrinks in summer and freezes again in winter, but a new study has concluded the region could become “ice-free” in just 10 years, a report says. Daily mail.
A team of scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder, US, found that ice melts more than usual in the summer and freezes less in the winter. The study concludes that the first ice-free period in the Arctic could come later this decade, decreasing by about 25 percent.
According to the newspaper, less ice means oceans move faster, melting more ice caps and contributing to heat waves on Earth. Sea ice typically reaches its smallest extent in mid-September, after the summer heat has melted it and before it begins to freeze again.
Both summer and winter ice are getting smaller, according to NASA.
On September 19, 2023, the Arctic became the sixth-lowest ice extent since NASA began monitoring it with satellites. At the same time, at the south pole, when the ice would have reached its peak, NASA recorded the region’s lowest maximum ever.
Sea ice in the Arctic has been declining since at least 1978, when NASA began monitoring it using satellites.
Based on the new analysis, the study authors predict that the first ice-free conditions could occur in September, sometime in the 2020s or 2030s.
By 2067, the Arctic is projected to be ice-free not only during peak September, but also during August and October.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
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