The Independent and The Washington Times report that the arctic seawater ice is rapidly disappearing. In some areas the ice cover has thinned as much as 40% between the 1960s and the early 1990s. New satellite based data has just been published which shows that within 100 years there may not be any arctic ice left, with dire consequences for polar bear and seal populations. The melting of massive amounts of fresh water in the arctic could also have serious impact on the Gulf stream.
In further news the Independent reports that scientist think that the massive Larsen ice shelf in the Antarctic may well be gone in 70 years. Scientists say that its loss may trigger a release of ice from the peninsula’s mainland, causing global sea levels to rise by 1 meter (3ft 3in).