Published December 31st, 2007 by Future Atlas
The Arctic: melting faster
New research suggests that the Arctic could be ice-free in summer decades before previous models have indicated.
A team of scientists now says this could come as early as 2013, based on patterns up to 2004. A possible harbinger: 2007’s summer ice cover was the smallest “in modern times.”
Other researchers push the date back, but some have begun to say “that 2030 is not an unreasonable date.”
Reduced or absent ice would speed up debates over Arctic resources, and make it more likely that Canada will face confrontations with rivals for oil and sea lanes.
(Via Arlington Institute; image: NASA)