In the next couple of years, there may be periods when the sea ice is almost absent in the Arctic, according to a prediction made by scientists from the University of Colorado.
The ice-free period is a situation where the ice in the Arctic will occupy less than a million square kilometers.
At the same time, researchers predict that in the middle of the XXI century, the Arctic will be free from floating ice for a whole month every year, most likely in September. If the rate of warming increases, then the Arctic seas may stop freezing even in winter.
The disappearance of sea ice has a detrimental effect on Arctic animals such as seals and polar bears, and put them on the verge of extinction.
In addition, ocean warming can lead to fish migrating from warmer seas to the waters of the Arctic Ocean, and it is difficult to predict how this will affect the ecosystem, ttelegraf.ru notes.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
