A group of international scientists has warned that nearly all Arctic sea ice could melt by the summer of 2027. This prediction is based on climate models, which suggest that unless global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, an “ice-free” day will occur within nine to 20 years after 2023.
The Arctic has already lost about half of its sea ice since the 1980s and is expected to continue shrinking due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. Research published in Nature Communications found that the Arctic will be considered “ice-free” when it has less than 1 million square kilometers of ice.
Alexandra Jahn, an associate professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, said that the climate models show a guaranteed ice-free day if global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, she also noted that there is still uncertainty in projections based on climate models, and the world may not see an ice-free Arctic for several years or even decades.
To avoid an ice-free day, researchers emphasize the importance of limiting global warming. If emissions are reduced, it’s possible to prevent rapid ice-loss events, while exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius will guarantee an “ice-free” Arctic. With record warm years and increasing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists predict that storms and heat waves will continue to increase in the future.
The prediction of an ice-free Arctic raises concerns about its impact on the climate system, ecosystems, and people living in the region. As the Arctic Ocean transitions from a white to a blue environment, it will visually illustrate the effects of human activities on the natural world.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/arctic-sea-ice-melt-climate-change-b2657621.html