As global warming melts sea ice across the Arctic, shipping routes once thought impossible — including directly over the North Pole — may open up by midcentury. 2045 to 2060 2015 to 2030 Predicted fastest shipping routes through the Arctic Ice-breaking ships Pacific Ocean Regular ships Sea ice thickness North American routes North American routes 1m 0.5m 1m 0.5m Yokohama, Japan Atlantic Ocean European routes European routes As global warming continues, by 2030 routes over the North Pole could open for ice-breaking cargo ships capable of operating in ice up to four feet thick. 0111001101101000011011110111010101110100011100110010000001101111011101010111010000100000001101110011010100110111 2045 to 2060 2015 to 2030 Predicted fastest shipping routes through the Arctic Ice-breaking ships Pacific Ocean Regular ships Sea ice thickness North American routes North American routes 1m 0.5m 1m 0.5m Yokohama, Japan Atlantic Ocean European routes European routes By 2045 to 2060, the decline of Arctic sea ice under moderate warming could allow even ordinary cargo ships to journey directly over the North Pole. “It will reduce decade on decade, and open up vast swaths of the Arctic Ocean.”As Arctic routes become more direct, voyage times could fall to less than three weeks in some cases, making Arctic shipping potentially more attractive than the southern routes in coming decades, Dr. Melia’s research shows. Average 18 20 22 24 26 28 30Just because shippers could make greater use of Arctic routes does not necessarily mean they will.

Source: New York Times May 03, 2017 09:00 UTC