Melting Arctic sea ice could be about to start uncontrollable global climate change, experts warn
The rapidly melting ice could set off 19 tipping points that will lead to weather havoc across the Earth
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The rapid melting of the Arctic sea ice could be about to bring about catastrophic events across the world, scientists have warned.
The effects of the melting ice could be felt as far away as the Indian ocean as the warm weather sets of 19 global tipping points, according to the new Arctic Resilience Report. Those tipping points happen when a natural system undergoes quick or overwhelming change, leading to profound effects on nearby ecosystems that might never be reversed.
In the Arctic, they include growing vegetation on the tundra that stops reflective snow and ice and so absorbs more heat, and the release of methane from the Arctic as it warms. The report, compiled by 11 different organisations, includes a range of different calamitous events that are likely to be produced by the warming poles.
The findings come just as climate scientists have warned that sea ice in the Arctic appears to be melting far more quickly than expected as the result of freakishly high temperatures.
Heat-packed oceans and northward winds have been reinforced by a “vicious circle” of climate change, scientists say.
Air over the Polar ice cap has been 9-12 degrees Celsius above average over the last four weeks, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. Through last week, temperatures reached the melting point, putting them far above the expected temperature and serving as a dangerous signal for the sea ice there.
The temperature is “by far the highest recorded” in the era of satellite data, DMI researcher Martin Stendel told the AFP. "What we are observing is very unusual."
At this time of year, the Arctic ocean would be expected to start freezing up into sea ice again – usually a rapid process that sees thousands of square kilometres of exposed ocean ice over. But that it isn’t happening.
"Not only was the ice not growing as it would normally, there was further melting due to warm air coming in," he told the news agency.
That effect is being caused by a number of factors – not only climate change, but also temporary weather phenomena like the lingering effects of last year’s El Nino. But those temporary things are being reinforced by climate change, which is the ultimate driver of the melting sea ice, scientists said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments