Ice melt at an all-time low! Awakening the climate giant?
The amount of sea ice on Earth has reached record lows, as confirmed by the latest satellite measurements since 1978. This decline is the result of a long-term loss of ice in the Arctic, compounded by an unexpected and not yet fully understood loss in Antarctica.
Why is sea ice crucial?
Sea ice is an important indicator of climate change and its loss is contributing to further warming of the planet. The white ice reflects the sun’s radiation, while the dark sea water beneath absorbs the heat. This phenomenon, known as the icehouse effect, helps maintain a stable climate, and disrupting it can lead to a number of negative consequences.
Currently, the total area of sea ice is around 16 million km², which is 2.5 million km² less than the long-term average. This deficit is equivalent to almost five times the size of France.
What is the situation in the Arctic?
The Arctic continues a long-term trend of ice loss that scientists have been tracking for decades. The average summer minimum has declined from 7 to 4.5 million km² since the 1980s and this decline is expected to continue in the coming decades.
The last two years have been among the warmest on record, reflected in record low Arctic sea ice. The lowest summer extent was recorded in 2012, with 2019 and 2020 ranking right behind. Whether a new record will be set this year depends on how spring and summer temperatures develop.
Antarctica – the new centre of concern
While in the Arctic, ice loss is a long-monitored phenomenon, in Antarctica it is a relatively new phenomenon that has scientists concerned for the third year in a row. Until recently, sea ice in this region was thought to be less sensitive to climate change. However, after 2016, its extent declined dramatically, with an all-time low recorded in 2023.
Scientists are now trying to determine whether this is a natural fluctuation or a permanent climate change. According to some experts, Antarctica has entered a new era with lower sea ice extents. If these changes lead to a more massive loss of land ice, rising ocean levels could accelerate significantly.
What does the future hold for the world?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that sea ice in the Arctic will start to disappear completely around 2050 during hot summers, but some studies warn that this could happen even sooner. In the case of Antarctica, the future remains uncertain, but with each new measurement the trend of ice loss seems to accelerate.
Photo source: www.pexels.com
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