An Ice-free Arctic?

Arctic would become ice-free for the first time in more than 100,000 years, a leading scientist has claimed.

16:35 15 June 2016

The Arctic is set to be free of ice this year, the first time in more than 100,000 years.

 

Based on data produced by the US National Snow & Ice Data Centre, there is just 11.1 million square kilometres of sea ice on 1 June year, lower than the average for the last 30 years of nearly 12.7 square kilometres.

 

The difference, which is more than 1.5 million square kilometres, is about the same size as six United Kingdoms.

 

Professor Peter Wadhams, head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group at Cambridge University, said: “My prediction remains that the Arctic ice may well disappear, that is, have an area of less than one million square kilometres for September of this year,” he said.

 

“Even if the ice doesn’t completely disappear, it is very likely that this will be a record low year. I’m convinced it will be less than 3.4 million square kilometres [the current record low].

 

“I think there’s a reasonable chance it could get down to a million this year and if it doesn’t do it this year, it will do it next year.