Scientists : Arctic sea ice is melting at its fastest rate since records began

The sea ice of the Arctic will melt further and faster than at any time since records began nearly 30 years ago, according to the latest data collected by a satellite survey of the polar region.

Scientists warned yesterday that the sea ice is already approaching the record minimum set in September 2005, even with a further month of the summer melting season still remaining.

This year has seen one of the most rapid rates of sea ice melting, which began in spring after one of the most disappointing winters for ice formation. “Unless something unusual happens we’re definitely on track for a record loss of sea ice. We’re on track to shatter all records,” said Mark Serreze, an Arctic specialist at the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre at Colorado University in Denver. “The rates of sea ice loss this year are really rather remarkable. Some of the daily rates of loss are the biggest we’ve ever seen. Things are happening really fast,” Dr Serreze said.

The area covered by Arctic sea ice has been monitored by American satellites since 1979. Sea ice, which floats on the surface of the ocean, naturally expands in surface coverage each winter and recedes in summer, but there has been a significant overall loss recorded during the past 27 years.

The Independent