Wintertime Arctic Sea Ice Hits Record Low: Is It Time to Panic?
The unprecedented effects of global warming may eventually give us enough reason to be worried, sooner than later. News from a group of scientists from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center says that the Arctic sea ice set a record low during wintertime due to global warming. They described the scene in the Arctic as a "warm, crazy winter."
NASA also said that the temperatures in the area this winter achieved a 15-degree increase compared to the average, which basically implies that sea ice is melting faster than usual. Well, the frozen ocean water isn't even supposed to melt because it only does during summer and supposedly will refreeze in the winter. But that's no longer happening right now.
There is reason why everyone on Earth should be worried about the state of sea ice, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The ice is responsible for influencing weather in literally all parts of the world. But not only that, it also affects wildlife and habitat of plants and animals.
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Unfortunately, the amount of sea ice in the region of the Arctic has seen a consistent, steadily, and alarming shrinkage over the years, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is blaming it on global warming created by man. The data center is also in agreement. According to lead scientist Ted Scambos, via USA Today, the Arctic is currently facing something that it hasn't been in a very long time. "The Arctic is in crisis," he said. "Year by year, it's slipping into a new state, and it's hard to see how that won't have an effect on weather throughout the Northern Hemisphere," he added.
There is speculation that if the remaining ice continues to melt, the rise in ocean levels will lead to a drastic changes in global temperatures, creating more extreme weather conditions.
