Arctic specialists at the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre at Colorado University, who have documented the gradual loss of polar sea ice since 1978, believe that a more dramatic melt began about 4 years ago.
"The changes we have seen in the Arctic in the past few decades are nothing short of remarkable," said Mark Serreze, one of the scientists reporting the new findings.
As more and more sea ice is lost during the summer (It is expected that sea ice in September 2005 will cover 18.2% less that the normal monthly average), greater expanses of the open sea is exposed to the sun, which will increase the rate at which heat is absorbed in the Arctic region.
carbon-info.org
Arctic North reaches point of no return
16th September 2005
Satellite photo showing the retreat of Arctic Sea ice.
Source Nasa.
Computer models suggest that the Arctic sea will be completely ice free during the summer by the year 2070. As more of the ocean is exposed, a positive feedback is created leading to yet more loss of ice. It is feared that when the Arctic Sea ice is lost, the melting will accelerate and extend to land glaciers on Greenland.
And while the melting of the sea ice will not lead to rising sea levels, the melting of the land ice on Greenland will lead to an increase in sea levels around the world of up to 6 meters - enough to cause serious damage to almost all major costal population centres.
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