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Arctic sea ice melting 200% faster than previously thought mongabay.com April 30, 2007
A comparison of newly available observational data to advanced simulations reveals that Arctic sea ice has been disappearing about three times faster than the average rate of loss projected by computer models. The new research, conducted by Julienne Stroeve of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and his colleagues, shows that September sea ice extent retreated at a rate of about 7.8 percent per decade during the 1953-2006 period, not the 2.5 percent projected by simulations. The basis for the new data--a combination of satellite measurements and early aircraft and ship reports--is considered more reliable than the earlier records. "This suggests that current model projections may in fact provide a conservative estimate of future Arctic change, and that the summer Arctic sea ice may disappear considerably earlier than IPCC projections," Stroeve said.
Stroeve says the Arctic is particularly sensitive to climate change due to the albedo of sea ice, which helps reflect sunlight back into space, cooling the region. When sea ice melts, the dark areas of open water absorb the sun's radiation, trigger a positive feedback loop that worsens melting. Earlier this month scientists at NSIDC reported in the journal Science that winter sea ice in the Arctic was the second smallest area on record this year, narrowly missing the 2006 mark. Sea ice extent, or the area of ocean that is covered by at least 15 percent ice, was 5.7 million square miles (14.7 million sq km) in March, slightly higher than the record low of 5.6 million square miles (14.5 million sq km) measured in March 2006. March usually marks the maximum extent of sea ice in the Arctic. "I'm not terribly optimistic about the future of the ice," said Mark Serreze, author of the Science paper. "As greenhouse gases continue to rise, the Arctic will continue to lose its ice. You just can't argue with the physics." Related articles NOAA offers "dramatic evidence" of Arctic warming (10/16/2008) Fall air temperatures 9°F (5°C) above normal, the second lowest-ever extent of summer sea ice, and the melting of surface ice in Greenland are signs of continued warming in the Arctic, according to the Arctic Report Card, an annual review of Arctic conditions by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its partners. U.S. to ban oil drilling in new Arctic reserves for polar bears (10/7/2008) The U.S. Department of the Interior will designate two Arctic reserves in areas considered critical habitat for polar bears as part of a legal settlement with environmental groups, reports Reuters. The reserves will be off-limits of oil development and must be established by June 30, 2010. Arctic sea ice "likely" hit lowest volume on record in 2008 (10/3/2008) The volume of sea ice in the Arctic has likely hit its lowest level since satellite measurements began in 1979, report researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center, who confirmed that Arctic sea ice extent was the second-lowest on record this year. Arctic sea ice falls to second lowest on record (9/16/2008) Arctic sea ice retreated to the second lowest level on record but remains about 9 percent above the low set last September, reports the NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. NASA: Sea ice melt opens the Northwest and Northeast Passage (9/9/2008) An image released by NASA shows that Arctic sea ice has retreated to the point where both the Northwest Passage around North America and the Northern Sea Route around Russia are open simultaneously. The occurrence marks the first time on record that both passages have been open. Comments? News options Liquid error: Template not found languages/english/includes/x/_59.liquid
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