Human-caused climate change is on track to make the Arctic Ocean functionally ice-free for part of each year starting sometime between 2044 and 2067, according to a study. However, the models’ predictions have disagreed widely, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. “Arctic sea ice is a key component of the earth system because of its highly reflective nature, which keeps the global climate relatively cool,” Thackeray said. Sea ice is critical to the Arctic ecosystem, and to the fishing industry and indigenous peoples who depend on that ecosystem, they said. However, they noted, this also contributes to further greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Source: The Hindu November 18, 2019 06:33 UTC