Friday, March 29

Arctic Ice Melting Faster than Scientists Predicted. Measurements Were Off

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Sea ice in the Arctic may be melting faster than scientists had predicted. The reason: Salty snow on the surface throws off the measurements from overhead satellites, according to a new study by the University of Calgary.

The new report, published in an academic journal (Geophysical Research Letters), said that satellite measurements may be off as much as 25 percent, meaning the Arctic Ocean could be free of ice much faster than anyone had thought. In fact, ice could melt entirely during summer months as early as 2040. And summer without ice in the Arctic could alter global weather patterns, increasing the number and strength of major storms, while changing the Arctic ecosystem, making it harder for polar bears to hunt, for example.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-arctic-research/arctic-sea-ice-may-be-declining-faster-than-expected-study-idUSKBN1CT2JD

 

 

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