The Arctic could be ice-free by mid-century

Melting sea ice would lead to weather disasters in most countries in the Northern Hemisphere and accelerate global warming.

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Scientists have warned that the Arctic Ocean could lose sea ice for the first time in 100,000 years if humans do not take steps to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, Independent reported on March 7.

Arctic sea ice is shrinking in area. (Photo: Flickr).

The region has experienced a sharp rise in temperatures in recent decades compared to the rest of the world. Winter temperatures on the northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen were 8-11 degrees Celsius higher than the average between 1961 and 1990.

This would have a major impact on the climate across much of the Northern Hemisphere, increasing the number of dangerous storms. Sea ice reflects much of the sun’s energy. If sea ice disappeared, the rate of global warming would increase.

The Arctic will be considered ice-free if the area of ​​ice shrinks below one million square kilometres. This means the seas surrounding the North Pole will be clear and the remaining ice will be concentrated mainly on small islands off the northern coast of Russia and Canada.

Last September, Arctic sea ice shrank to about 4.1 million square kilometers, the second lowest level on record, down from 3.4 million in 2012, according to the US Snow and Ice Data Center. Antarctic sea ice is now at a record low of 2.14 million square kilometers, down from 3.16 million in 1981-2010.

According to Khoahoc.tv