A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications has found that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is expected tocompletely disappear during the month of September as early as the 2030s—roughly 10 years earlier than previous estimates. The authors of the study compared satellite images and climate models from 1979 to 2019 to come to this conclusion. Arctic sea ice typically follows a yearly cycle. During the winter, the ocean water freezes into ice as temperatures drop. Then throughout the summer, portions of this ice melt with the warmer temperatures. Typically, the melting peaks in September before temperatures start to drop. Previous studies on the topic have indicated that September sea ice has been shrinking at a rate of12.6% per decade.
The potential disappearance of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean could have disastrous effects on the planet. Numerous Arctic animals like polar bears heavily rely onthe sea ice for hunting. Furthermore, differences in ocean salt levels resulting from ice loss could substantially impact fish populations. In regard tothe global climate, severe weather like heatwaves, wildfires, and floodingcould increase in many northern- and mid-latitude places.
