The Arctic sea ice recorded its lowest winter accumulation since satellite records began 47 years ago, an alarming sign of climate change with global repercussions, according to scientists.
Every year, in March, the Arctic ice reaches its maximum extent before starting a melting process that extends over six months. However, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the maximum recorded last Saturday was 14.33 million square kilometers, 80,000 square kilometers less than the previous record low set in 2017. This reduction is equivalent to the surface area of California.
“The increase in global temperatures is behind the ice decrease,” explained Walt Meier, an expert in ice data. “Sea ice is extremely sensitive: a small change in temperature can make the difference between ice skating and swimming.”
According to scientist Jennifer Francis, from the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the ice reduction acts as an early warning system for changes in the global climate. “It’s like a broken record that keeps warning us of problems that are hard to detect,” she stated.
Experts pointed out that the Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet, affecting weather patterns in other regions. This alters the jet stream, weakening it and causing more intense storms, waves of extreme cold, and prolonged rains in different parts of the world.
Consequences for Arctic Life
The retreat of sea ice has direct impacts on Arctic fauna. Polar bears, which rely on the ice to hunt, face a reduction in their food sources, leaving them weaker and hungrier. Additionally, the winter ice layer is crucial for fishing and the survival of seal pups, Meier warned.
On the other hand, scientist Julienne Stroeve, from the University of Manitoba, pointed out that the concern not only lies in the reduction of ice, but also in its thickness. The current ice is thinner, making it easier to melt in summer.
An Alarming Trend
Since 2015, the five lowest extents of winter sea ice in the Arctic have been recorded in recent years. Compared to 1979, when the historical maximum of 16.64 million square kilometers was reached, the reduction is equivalent to the size of Pakistan.
The phenomenon not only affects the northern part of the planet. In Antarctica, sea ice was close to reaching its historical minimum this March, leading to a worrying new record: in February, the total amount of sea ice in the world reached its lowest level in history, combining reductions in both poles.
Melting ice reaches extreme levels.
Slowing Down Melting: A Possible Mission
Scientists from MIT Technology Review and Dartmouth University have created an initiative to slow down melting. This initiative includes various tools for analyzing the movement and melting of glaciers.
To achieve this, they proposed technological intervention in glaciers to reduce the temperature in vulnerable areas, helping to slow down the melting of these massive ice masses, avoiding massive displacement. Additionally, it minimizes the economic impact caused by the floods generated by melting.
Another prevention method is , using high-resolution satellites and computer simulations. This will allow scientists to have access to more accurate data on glacier movement and melting, providing the possibility of making better predictions about sea level rise.
Source: Euronews.
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