Arctic Ocean 'ice-free summer' in next decade
Arctic Ocean could have an 'ice-free' summer in next decade, researchers say
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By Matthew Champion. |  |
Thursday, 15, Oct 2009 11:16
By Sarah Garrod
The Arctic Ocean will be largely ice-free within the next decade, research from the Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF has found.
The two groups say the latest ice thickness record measured 1.8 metres, a "depth considered too thin to survive next summer's ice melt".
They claim the data, which was collected by manual drill and observations on part of the Beaufort Sea show the area is comprised almost exclusively of first-year ice; when it traditionally contains older, much thicker ice.
Professor Peter Wadhams, who is one the world's leading experts on sea ice cover in the North Pole region, analysed the findings with the Polar Ocean Physics Group at the University of Cambridge. He said: "With a larger part of the region now first year ice, it is clearly more vulnerable.
"The area is now more likely to become open water each summer, bringing forward the potential date when the summer sea ice will be completely gone."
He added that the data supports predictions the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within 20 years, and much of the decrease will be happening within ten years.
"That means you'll be able to treat the Arctic as if it were essentially an open sea in the summer and have transport across the Arctic Ocean," Prof Wadhams added.
The new technique which was used to collect the data helps researchers refine predictions about the decline of the ice.
At the unveiling of the results in London, Dr. Martin Sommerkorn from WWF International Arctic Programme, said: "The Arctic sea ice holds a central position in our Earth's climate system. Take it out of the equation and we are left with a dramatically warmer world.
"Today's findings provide yet another urgent call for action to world leaders ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December to rapidly and effectively curb global greenhouse gas emissions, with rich countries committing to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2020."