The Arctic Ocean is projected to have its first ice-free day within nine to 20 years after 2023, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. Climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions are causing sea ice to melt at an unprecedented rate, with some projections predicting that the ice could disappear as early as three years from now.
The Arctic Ocean’s ice cover has been declining rapidly over the past decade, with sea ice melting by more than 12% each year. This trend is alarming scientists who warn that the loss of sea ice will have severe consequences for the planet. The study used 11 climate models and ran 366 simulations to predict when the ice would disappear.
The first ice-free day in the Arctic Ocean could happen as early as 2027, although most experts agree that it’s more likely to occur in the 2030s. The loss of sea ice will not only have dramatic effects on marine habitats and ocean currents but also impact the planet’s temperature regulation.
The study’s findings come with some good news: reducing carbon dioxide emissions could delay or even prevent an ice-free day, giving humanity a window of opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/arctic/ominous-milestone-for-the-planet-arctic-oceans-1st-ice-free-day-could-be-just-3-years-away-alarming-study-finds