Annual Arctic sea ice less reflective than old ice
Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 13:30
in Earth & Climate
In the Arctic Ocean, the blanket of permanent sea ice is being progressively replaced by a transient winter cover. In recent years the extent of the northern ocean's ice cover has declined. The summer melt season is starting earlier, the winter freeze is happening later, the areal extent of the ice has decreased, and more ice is failing to last through the summer.