美國國家冰雪資料中心科學人員表示，16、17日衛星所測量到的北極海冰面積範圍，已低於過去所有的歷史記錄達到最小值。研究員麥爾指出，北極海冰面積已低於2005年所記錄的最小值，並且還在持續融化中。
在2007年7月北極海冰以極快的速度融化時，科學家就提出警告，北極海冰面積有高達92%的機率將創下歷年新低。至少15%的海洋被冰層覆蓋就是所謂的海冰面積，而自1970年代後期人類開始使用衛星測量海冰面積後，海冰面積就不斷縮小。
許多研究人員認為，海冰面積的縮小，主要是因為過多溫室氣體排放至地球大氣層，造成全球暖化而氣溫升高所導致。
科學家表示，目前海冰面積以極地西伯利亞東岸以及阿拉斯加北部的波弗特海最小，加拿大群島的冰層也相當薄。而北冰洋近大西洋一帶的海冰層雖然沒有顯著的變化，但與以往相比，面積仍有所縮小。
Arctic sea ice fell below all previous records for the lowest absolute minimum extent ever measured by satellite on Thursday and Friday, said scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Sea ice extent has fallen below the 2005 record low absolute minimum and is still melting, said researcher Walt Meier.
A rapid disintegration of Arctic sea ice during July has prompted scientists to warn there is a 92 percent chance that Arctic sea ice extent will hit an annual record low. Sea ice extent, the area of an ocean covered by at least 15 percent of ice, has been shrinking since the late 1970s, when satellite measurements began.
The decline is believed by many researchers to be due to higher temperatures due to global warming from a buildup of greenhouse gas emissions in the Earth's atmosphere.
Currently, sea ice extent is particularly low in the East Siberian side of the Arctic and the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska. Ice in the Canadian Archipelago is also quite low, the scientists said. Along the Atlantic side of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice extent is not as strikingly low, but is still less than normal.
全文及圖片詳見 ENS
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
