Continue Ice Melting, Polar Bears Threatened

Layer of sea ice in the Arctic appear to have reached the lowest level during 2008 and the second lowest level recorded since the birth of the satellite era. Similarly, the observation the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Despite being slightly above the record low minimum set on September 16, 2007, season this year strengthen the strong negative trend in sea ice cover during summer observed during the last 30 years, according to the report published on Wednesday local time or GMT.

Prior to last year, the previous record low for September is set in 2005. The data center will issue an analysis of the possible causes behind the condition of Arctic sea ice this year during the first week of October.

In March, when the Arctic sea ice reaches its maximum during the winter, several scientists from NASA and NASA reported supporting data center ice of the older and thicker continue to shrink. According to the processed satellite microwave data from NASA, that perennial ice used to cover 50-60 percent of the Arctic winter is now only covered less than 30 percent. Perennial sea ice is a long-lived layer of ice that persists even when the seasonal sea ice melts the short-lived until the minimum threshold for the summer.

NASA scientists have been observing the Arctic ice cover since 1979. NASA developed the capability to observe that layer and sea ice concentration from passive microwave sensors for air. Ice shrunk to its minimum limit on September 12, 2008, when ice covered the region seluasa 4.52 million square kilometers, and now seems to grow, while the North Pole began to enter the winter, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

One canal in the Northwest Passage, the long sea route between Europe and Asia desired, opened in 2007 and 2008. In this year also occurred the opening of the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic Ocean along the Siberian coast.

Ice Center last month stating there fundamental ice melt in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska, the Eastern Siberian Sea, off the coast of eastern Russia, one of the largest population of polar bear habitat in the world. Because polar bears use as a platform floating lumps of ice to hunt seals, they are forced to travel to swim longer distances when the ice melts, so it is likely they will be tired and in danger of drowning.

Polar ice is a factor in weather patterns and global climate. The difference between the cold polar air and warm air around the Equator to send air and warm currents, including concentrated flow. Sea ice to help keep cold air around the North Pole because its white color reflects sunlight. As sea ice disappears, the new open dark water absorbs more sunlight so that the accelerating warming.