Arctic Headed for Another Melting Record

Temperatures have been as much as 14 degrees above normal in the Arctic this summer.

Photo By: NASA

With temperatures 9-14 degrees (F) above normal this July in the Arctic, sea ice is disappearing at an accelerated rate. At this pace, 2011 could well set a new record for loss of sea ice. The last record was set in 2007, but several years since have come close.

The melt season ends in September, when ice begins to re-form as the Arctic winter sets in.

The accelerated melting of Arctic sea ice is one of the clearest signs of climate change, scientists say. While satellite records of sea ice extent only date back to the 1970s, there has been a clear and dramatic downward trend that has led to the opening of the Northwest channel and other fabled shipping routes in some summers.

This satellite image is from NASA’s Terra satellite.

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