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Arctic sea ice waning faster than predicted
October 30 , 2017
2436 days
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- According to the research undertaken by the Cryosphere Climate Research Group, Arctic sea ice could be dwindling faster than predicted.
- Arctic sea ice is a key indicator of climate change.
- Dwindling ice cover led to reduction in the amount of solar radiation reflected back in to space and increases its absorption.
- Thereby it hastens the warming of oceans which has an impact on weather phenomena like the El Nino that influences the Asian Monsoon.
- The thinning ice would make it difficult for animals like polar bears and seals and organisms like phytoplankton to survive.
- The researchers have found that satellite measurements over the years have overestimated the thickness of Arctic sea ice by as much as 25% because of the presence of salty snow.
- This is because of salty snow does not allow radar waves from satellites to penetrate, leading to skewed measurements.
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