James Cope 9 Column Grid

J A M E S

~

9 Column

C O P E

Dramatic melting of sea icea major due to global warming is having impact on the polar region

National Environment 5

Ice volume in the Arctic has declined dramatically over the past decade. The 2011 minimum was more than 50% below that of 2005. According to the Polar Science Centre at the University of Washington it now stands at around 5,770 cubic kilometres, compared with 12,433 cu km during the 2000s and 6,494 cu km in 2011. The ice volume for 31 July 2012 was roughly 10% below the value for the same day in 2011. A new study by UK scientists suggests that 900 cu km of summer sea ice has disappeared from the Arctic Ocean over the past year.

The consequences of losing the Arctic’s ice coverage for the summer months are expected to be immense. If the white sea ice no longer reflects sunlight back into space, the region can be expected to heat up even more than at present.

This could lead to an increase in ocean temperatures with

unknown effects on weather systems in northern latitudes. still serves as a stark warning to us all. Data shows us that the frozen north is teetering on the brink. The level of ice ‘has remained far below average’ and appears to be getting thinner, leaving it more vulnerable to future melting. The consequences of further rapid ice loss at the top of the world are of profound importance to the whole

Ice volume in the Arctic has declined 2011 minimum was more than to the Polar Science Centre at now stands at around 5,770 with 12,433 cu km during in 2011. The ice volume for 10% below the value for the study by UK scientists summer sea ice has disOcean over the past year.

The consequences of losing the summer months are the white sea ice no longer space, the region can be exthan at present. This could temperatures with unknown northern latitudes.

In a statement, a Greenpeace ing Arctic still serves as a stark that the frozen north is teetering on the

Arctic Crisis

More remarkably, we saw distinct human footprints on another ice floe. We are possibly 500 miles from any habitation, so whose footprints were they? Where had they come from? How old were they? Had the polar bears got whoever it was? The consensus view is that they could be a year old on a floe that has circulated hundreds of miles and travelled perhaps from as far as Greenland or Svalbard. They could be those of a seal hunter or a fisherman.

dramatically over the past decade. The 50% below that of 2005. According the University of Washington it cubic kilometres, compared the 2000s and 6,494 cu km 31 July 2012 was roughly same day in 2011. A new suggests that 900 cu km of appeared from the Arctic the Arctic’s ice coverage for expected to be immense. If reflects sunlight back into pected to heat up even more lead to an increase in ocean effects on weather systems in spokesman said: “The disappearwarning to us all. Data shows us brink.

National Environment 5

With the melt happening at an unprecedented rate of more than 100,000 sq km a day, and at least a week of further melt expected before ice begins to reform ahead of the northern winter, satellites are expected to confirm the record – currently set in 2007 – within days.

“Unless something really unusual happens we will see the record broken in the next few days. It might happen this weekend, almost certainly next week,” Julienne Stroeve, a scientist at the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado, told the Guardian.

“In the last few days it has been losing 100,000 sq km a day, a record in itself for August. A storm has spread the ice pack out, opening up water, bringing up warmer water.

Things are definitely changing quickly.”

“

Temperatures last week in the Arctic were

14°c

”

which is pretty warm.

Arctic Crisis