Arctic sea ice 'gone in a decade'.Summary: The Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean, the smallest ocean, c.5,400,000 sq mi (13,986,000 sq km), located entirely within the Arctic Circle and occupying the region around the North Pole. will be an "open sea" almost entirely free from ice within a decade, the latest data released indicates. The Arctic Ocean will be an "open sea" almost entirely free from ice within a decade, the latest data indicates. Ice cover during the summer months will have entirely disappeared within 20 years, but most of the decrease will happen before 2020, leaving the Arctic Ocean clear for marine transport. The Catlin Arctic Survey, completed earlier this year by a team led by explorer Pen Hadow Pen Hadow is a British explorer and author. In 2003 he became the first man to walk solo and unsupported the 478 miles from the northern coast of Canada to the North Pole. , is the latest research into the condition of Arctic ice. Drilling and observation figures suggest the area is almost entirely made up of young, "first-year" ice, whereas the region traditionally consists of older, thicker "multi-year" ice. Peter Wadhams Peter Wadhams is professor of Ocean Physics, and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge. He is best known for his work on sea ice. , Professor of Ocean Physics and Head of the Polar Physics Group, has spearheaded the team analysing the results. He said: "The summer ice cover in the Arctic will completely vanish in 20 to 30 years time. There won't be any sea ice there at all. "You'll be able to sail across the Arctic Ocean from Bering Strait Bering Strait, c.55 mi (90 km) wide, between extreme NE Asia and extreme NW North America, connecting the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea. It is usually completely frozen over from October to June. The Diomede Islands are in the strait. to the Atlantic without any hindrance hin·drance n. 1. a. The act of hindering. b. The condition of being hindered. 2. One that hinders; an impediment. See Synonyms at obstacle. ." Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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