The Arctic's oldest and thickest sea ice has started breaking up because of warm winds and above-average temperatures in the northern hemisphere. The break-up, which has never been recorded before, has happened twice this year. Scientists say it is a sign that global warming may be affecting Arctic ecosystems more than previously thought.
The Arctic's oldest and thickest sea ice has started breaking up because of warm winds and above-average temperatures in the northern hemisphere. The break-up, which has never been recorded before, has happened twice this year. Thomas Lavergne, a meteorologist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, said the changes were scary, while others said scientists could be forced to revise their theories about which bit of the Arctic will withstand global warming the longest.