Arctic Ocean to See Ice-Free Days by 2027

The Arctic Ocean is projected to experience its first ice-free days as early as 2027, according to several studies, marking a critical milestone in climate change. Researchers, including Dr. Céline Heuzé from the University of Gothenburg, used computer simulations to predict this outcome, noting that the decline in sea ice is largely attributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The Arctic sea ice, which has been decreasing by 12% per decade, recorded a minimum of 1.65 million square miles this year, significantly below historical averages. Although the melting of sea ice won't directly raise sea levels, it is expected to have profound impacts on global weather patterns and ecosystems. An ice-free Arctic could lead to extreme weather events, such as cold spells and forest fires in regions far from the Arctic. This scenario underscores the urgent need for climate action to mitigate further warming and ice loss.