Oldest Ice in the Arctic Sea

 

Recent studies by NASA scientists, Joey Comiso, found that the oldest ice and the Arctic Sea disappeared tertebal alias melting faster than ice sheets younger and thinner. The findings were published in the Journal of Climate, published in February 2012. The oldest ice melt makes the Arctic region are increasingly threatened.

"Arctic ice cover becomes thinner and thinner because of losing the thick ice layer quickly. At the same time, the surface temperature in the Arctic increases, causing the formation of ice in short season," Comiso said that NASA was quoted on Wednesday (29/02/2012).

In the present study, Comiso perennial ice cover in comparing 1980 and 2012. Data taken by satellite on 1 November 1979-31 January 1980 and 1 November 2011-31 January 2012. Data is collected by the Nimbus-7 satellite and NASA's Microwave Imager Special Sendor / Sounder (SSMS) belonging to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP).

Captured image can be seen in the picture above. Perennial ice-covered region is described by a bright white color and the average of icy blue to white milk. Imaging results showed that the extent of perennial ice (all areas covered sea ice lasting at least 15 per cent) declined by 15.1 percent per decade.

While the permafrost region (the area is fully covered by perennial ice) also decreased significantly, by 17.2 percent per decade.

Scientists introduce three types of ice. Perennial ice is ice that remains frozen for more than two summers. Seasonal ice is ice that forms in winter and melts quickly. While perennial ice is ice that could last at least one summer.

Of research, Comiso found that perennial ice extent has decreased by 12.2 percent per decade. While perennial ice area decreased 13.5 percent per decade.

"It takes cold temperatures lasting long enough for ice to grow thicker so that it can survive in the summer and reverse this trend," said Comiso.