SAN FRANSISCO, December 16 2008 – According to US National Snow and Ice Data Center, there is now unambiguous evidence that the warming in the Arctic is accelerating, BBC Online reports Wednesday.
The minimum extents reached in 2007 and 2008 were the smallest recorded in the satellite age.
Theory predicts that as ice is lost in the Arctic, more of the ocean’s surface will be exposed to solar radiation and will warm up.
When the autumn comes and the Sun goes down on the Arctic, that warmth should be released back into the atmosphere, delaying the fall in air temperatures.
Ultimately, this feedback process should result in Arctic temperatures rising faster than the global mean.
If this process continues, it will extend the melting season for Arctic ice, delaying the onset of winter freezing and weakening further the whole system.
