Climate Changed
Arctic Summer Melt Shows Ice Is Disappearing Faster Than Normal
- Region’s additional ice loss is equivalent to size of Wales
- Record temperatures have beset areas from Alaska to Greenland
The retreating ice fields of Ellesmere Island.
Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images North AmericaThis article is for subscribers only.
Ice covering the Arctic Ocean reached the second-lowest level recorded for this time of year after July temperatures spiked in areas around the North Pole.
The rate of ice loss in the region is a crucial indicator for the world’s climate and a closely-watched metric by bordering nations jostling for resources and trade routes. This month’s melt is tracking close to the record set in July 2012, the Colorado-based National Snow & Ice Data Center said in a statement.