Arctic Ocean May Experience First Ice-Free Day by 2027

A new study published in Nature Communications warns that the Arctic Ocean could see its first “ice-free” day as early as 2027, marking a significant shift in the planet’s climate, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Researchers indicate that even under optimistic scenarios, this milestone is likely to occur within the next two decades.

The study highlights that Arctic Sea ice has been shrinking by over 12% per decade since satellite monitoring began in 1979. This loss of ice, which plays a crucial role in regulating global temperatures, contributes to a feedback loop that accelerates warming through the albedo effect, causing the Arctic to warm four times faster than the global average.

Using 11 climate models and 366 simulations, the researchers suggest that the ice-free threshold could be crossed within three to six years under unusually warm conditions. Lead author Celine Heuze emphasizes the need for preparedness, as the first ice-free day may occur before the first ice-free month.

Despite the alarming findings, the researchers stress that significant reductions in carbon emissions could delay this event and help preserve Arctic sea ice, offering a potential path forward in mitigating climate change impacts.