Arctic sea ice 'gone in a decade'

Thu Oct 15 2009 17:05:29

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, 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, 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 to the Atlantic without any hindrance."

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