Satellite data shows dramatic decrease in Arctic ice
A study released by researchers from University College London (UCL) found that the thickness of Arctic sea ice decreased dramatically last year. Satellite data indicated that the ice thinned by as much as 1.6 ft in some areas. Unlike other research techniques, satellite analysis is able to look at entire regions in the aggregate. This allowed the researchers to eliminate other potential causes for the decrease in ice. According to the UCL study, the satellite data indicated that the ice is melting across the board, and is not just being pushed up against the coastline.
Arctic sea ice shrank to the smallest size on record in September 2007, when it was only 1.59 million sq. miles. (Imagine a square approx 1300 miles by 1300 miles).
The study co-author, Seymour Laxon, told the BBC, “The time when Arctic sea ice is going to disappear is open to a lot of debate. About five years ago, the average projection for the sea ice disappearing was about 2080. But the ice minimums, and this evidence of melting, suggests that we should favor the models that suggest the sea ice will disappear by 2030-2040, but there is still a lot of uncertainty.”
- Similar Posts:
- Melting Arctic ice changing Mid-Atlantic ecosystems
- Study: Antarctica is Warming Along With Rest of the Planet
- Presidential Directive Lays Out U.S. Policy Towards Rapidly Changing Arctic Region
Comments
One Comment on Satellite data shows dramatic decrease in Arctic ice
-
John Tudder on
Wed, 9th Sep 2009 10:39 am
The outgoing leader of Greenpeace has admitted his organization’s recent claim that the Arctic Ice will disappear by 2030 was “a mistake.”
Greenpeace made the claim in a July 15 2009 press release entitled “Urgent Action Needed As Arctic Ice Melts,” which said there will be an ice-free Arctic by 2030 because of global warming.
Under close questioning by BBC reporter Stephen Sackur on the “Hardtalk” program, Gerd Leipold, the retiring leader of Greenpeace, said the claim was wrong.
“I don’t think it will be melting by 2030. … That may have been a mistake,” he said.
Please contribute to the discussion by leaving a comment below. No need to agree with the post or other commenters, but please be constructive and respectful.
