Arctic sea ice at 2nd lowest level
August 28, 2008

GLOBAL WARMING: Arctic sea ice at 2nd lowest level

More ominous signs Wednesday have scientists saying that a global
warming "tipping point" in the Arctic is happening before their eyes:
Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has melted to its second lowest level
since satellite observations began.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo., reported that
the extent of sea ice in the Arctic is down to 2.03 million square
miles. The lowest point since 1979 is 1.65 million square miles set
last September.

With about three weeks left in the Arctic summer, this year could
break the previous record, scientists said.

Arctic ice always melts in summer and refreezes in winter. But over
the years, more of the ice is lost to the sea and less of it is
recovered in winter. While ice reflects the sun's heat, the open ocean
absorbs more heat, and the melting accelerates warming in other parts
of the world.

Within a few years -- "five to less than 10 years" -- the Arctic could
be free of sea ice in the summer, said NASA ice scientist Jay Zwally.

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