Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Arctic sea ice just dropped to an alarming new low
Sea ice has a significant influence on the global climate. Its bright
surface reflects as much as 80% of sunlight back into space, keeping polar
regions cold. When it melts, it exposes the dark ocean surface, which absorbs
sunlight, leading to higher ocean temperatures and accelerating further
melting. The Arctic sea ice reaches its peak in March each year, covering
around 14 to 15 million square kilometers. This March, the Arctic sea ice
peaked at 14.29 million square kilometers, marking the lowest maximum extent in
the 48-year satellite record. This year’s peak was approximately 1.36 million
square kilometers below the 1981-2010 average, about twice the size of Texas. Ongoing
buildup of heat-trapping gases from burning fossil fuels has been warming the oceans,
heating the air, melting the ice, and causing extreme weather events. Even if climate
pollution is stopped, the Arctic will have no ice during the summer season within
a decade or two. Where will polar bears live?
Read the article and learn about the impacts of global warming on the
Arctic sea ice.
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