Originally published November 4 2005
Satellite images show ice caps melting faster than ever
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers at the NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center at Colorado University say that the "stunning reduction" in ice could indicate long-term trends in warming.
Arctic sea ice has melted to a record low this month, prompting fears that the entire polar ice cap may disappear within decades.
Satellite images of the northern hemisphere's floating sea ice show that the area of ocean covered by the ice during this month was the lowest ever observed by scientists.
It is the fourth consecutive summer that the area covered by the sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk below even the long-term decline, which began at least as far back as the late 1970s.
A gradual loss of sea ice has taken place for a quarter of a century but scientists believe they may be witnessing an acceleration in the melting process because of climate change and a process of "positive feedback" causing a vicious cycle of melting and warming.
The latest figures were released yesterday by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Snow and Ice Data Center at Colorado University, which described the loss of September ice as a "stunning reduction".
"Since the 1990s, the melting and retreat trends are accelerating and the one common thread is that the Arctic temperatures over the ice, ocean and surrounding land have increased in recent decades," Dr Scambos said.
"With four consecutive years of low summer ice extent, confidence is strengthening that a long-term decline is under way," Dr Meier said.
Mark Serreze said that the loss of Arctic sea ice is likely to make global warming worse because more ocean is exposed to the warming effects of the sun.
"Sea ice is white and, therefore, reflects a lot of the sun's energy back into space, whereas dark, open ocean absorbs a lot more energy ...
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