Arctic Ice Cap Will Disappear Within The Century

The Arctic ice cap is on track to disappear within a century, according to a study published yesterday.

The satellite survey by the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC), and the space agency Nasa reveals that for the fourth consecutive year there has been “a stunning reduction” in Arctic sea ice at the end of the northern summer, placing species such as polar bears at risk. The survey recorded the lowest sea-ice extent yet seen – 2.06 million square miles on Sept 19 – 20 per cent below the mean average September sea-ice extent from 1978 to 2001. That is the equivalent of 500,000 square miles – an area about twice the size of Texas.