Arctic sea ice at lowest levels in history

This week the extent of Arctic sea ice is at an unprecedented historic low, the smallest amount of ice cover since satellite measurement began in 1979. According to scientists, dramatic summer sea ice losses in five of the past six years, continuously thinning ice, and warm air temperatures are a pattern that can only be explained by climate change. In addition, the ice in the Arctic isn’t done melting and will continue to contract further until approximately mid-September when it will begin to grow again.

With shipping in the Arctic region on the rise and ice on the decline we have yet another reason to enact strong rules for shipping in the Arctic and Antarctic regions to try and reverse this dismal trend.

Image credit: Sea Ice Extent, 8/28/2012 – National Snow & Ice Data Center, Boulder CO