Rapid Arctic Sea Ice Melt: The Big Picture

[n2doc]

Jan. 6, 2010 -- The Arctic Ocean is becoming more active as the region continues to lose sea ice at an alarming rate. This typically quiet ocean has started churning and mixing more than usual, according to a study published in the latest issue of Geophysical Research Letters.

Scientists are concerned that these changes in ocean movement could be speeding up the melting of Arctic sea ice. During a two-week period in summer 2007, Arctic sea ice declined as much as 81,081 square miles per day.

Satellite images have captured stark evidence over the years that show the shrinking sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, as well as retreating glaciers on land. Here, we present a few hot spots.



The Beaufort Sea, one of the outermost seas of the Arctic Ocean, is a vital hunting ground for polar bears, which depend on thick, vast ice sheets to raise their young and protect themselves. These satellite images show the extent to which the animals are losing their habitat.

Credit: USGS



The town of Barrow, Alaska sits on the coast of the Beaufort Sea. Typically, ice forms along the coast in the winter, and then melts or breaks away by mid-July. These satellite images show that the ice melting in this area has dramatically increased over time.

Credit: USGS



According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, ice melting in the East Siberian Sea, also a part of the Arctic Ocean, spiked to a degree not seen in the history of satellite recording.


more

http://news.discovery.com/earth/arctic-sea-ice-retreat-big-pic-gallery.html

[villager]

1. Those hoaxing scientists have sure been busy with their hair dryers!

Blowing away all the ice, to make it "seem" like the ice is disappearing!

[DKRC]

2. Hair dryers?

That's so 80s!

They've been using those space-saving bags.
We have the same amount of ice.
It's just been vacuum packed to make it more manageable.

:evilgrin:

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Did you notice that none of the photos are from 2009!?

That’s how they work!
(:sarcasm:)