"Arctic Ocean Ice May Disappear" Sea Ice Melting Second Lowest on Record... Impact of Global Warming

Second Smallest Size Since 2012
Impact of Siberian Heatwave and Massive Wildfires
Arctic Experiences Greater Global Warming Effects Than Other Regions

A study has found that Arctic sea ice has shrunk to the second smallest level ever recorded. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Due to the ongoing effects of global warming, the extent of sea ice (ice floating on the Arctic Ocean) this year has shrunk to the second smallest level ever observed.

According to reports from local U.S. media such as The New York Times (NYT) on the 21st (local time), researchers at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center announced in a report released that the Arctic sea ice extent as of the 15th was recorded at 3.7 million km².

This is the second smallest size since satellite observations of sea ice began in 1979, following the record in 2012 (3.4 million km²).

Arctic sea ice expands to its maximum size in autumn and winter, then begins to melt and shrink again during the warming spring and summer months. This year, the sea ice reached its minimum extent on the 15th, and has been increasing again as temperatures started to drop.

The researchers pointed out that global warming is having a greater impact on the Arctic compared to other regions. According to the research team, the sea ice extent is decreasing by more than 13% every decade.

In particular, as the ice that reflects sunlight melts and the extent decreases, the area exposed to sunlight increases accordingly. Additionally, since the ocean is darker in color and absorbs sunlight well, sea water temperatures also rise. The less sea ice there is, the higher the temperature the ice is exposed to, creating a vicious cycle.

Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, stated in a press release, "Due to Siberia’s heatwaves and massive wildfires, this year’s Arctic sea ice was close to the smallest extent on record," adding, "We are heading toward an ice-free Arctic Ocean, and this year has driven another wedge into that future."