Arctic sea ice is thinning twice as fast as previously thought. As a result, parts of the Arctic could become ice free by 2040.
The study indicates that the ice is melting and the amount of ice is decreasing, which means that coastal areas are exposed to more extreme weather events.
The findings raise new concerns about global climate change and the potential for increased extreme weather and flooding in coastal regions of the world.
Researchers at University College London (UK) used data from the European Space Agency satellite to analyze changes in the Arctic sea ice with numerous icebergs floating on the ocean surface.
“Previous calculations of sea ice thickness are out of date,” said Robbie Mallett of UCL College of Earth Sciences and lead author of the study.
The researchers also examined the impact that the thinning of the Arctic sea ice could have on the indigenous communities living in the north poles of the world.
Mr. Mallett said: “The thinning sea ice will have a worrying effect on indigenous communities as it will make coastal settlements increasingly exposed to the elements and ocean waves.”
The North Pole with the South Pole is considered to be the “refrigerator” of the world. With the amount of ice covered here, these areas reflect heat back into space, while other parts of the Earth continue to absorb heat.
Studies conducted in early 2021 by scientists at the University of Oulu in Finland conclude that the loss of ice in the Barents Sea, which is part of the Arctic, has led to a period of extreme weather conditions in the Kingdom. United between February and March 2018, causing billions of pounds in damage.
They found that the extreme weather conditions were triggered by a polar vortex of cold, low-pressure air, causing heavy snowfall in northern Europe. Professor Alun Hubbard, one of the scientists involved in the project, believes there could be other extreme weather conditions as well.
“People have the feeling that the North Pole is a long way from the UK, but it is not. The point is that what is happening at the North Pole does not only affect the North Pole,” said the Professor Alun Hubbard. “If the North Pole stopped absorbing / reflecting heat it would be really annoying because all of our weather systems would change.”
