The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic has
shrunk for a fourth consecutive year, according to new data released by
US scientists.
They say that this month sees the lowest extent of ice cover for more than a century.
The Arctic climate varies naturally, but the researchers
conclude that human-induced global warming is at least partially
responsible.
They warn the shrinkage could lead to even faster melting in coming years.
"September 2005 will set a new record minimum in the
amount of Arctic sea ice cover," said Mark Serreze, of the National
Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Boulder, Colorado.
"It's the least sea ice we've seen in the satellite
record, and continues a pattern of extreme low extents of sea ice which
we've now seen for the last four years," he told BBC News.
September lows
September is the month when the Arctic ice usually reaches a minimum.
The new data shows that on 19 September, the area
covered by ice fell to 5.35 million sq km (2.01 million sq miles), the
lowest recorded since 1978, when satellite records became available; it
is now 20% less than the 1978-2000 average.
The current rate of shrinkage they calculate at 8% per decade; at this
rate there may be no ice at all during the summer of 2060.
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Complete article BBC
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