Sea Ice Melting As Shown By Extreme Temperatures In The Arctic

Scientists noticed that strange events have been happening in the Arctic, and it is getting very troubling.

The North Pole seems to be experiencing unexpected hot sea temperatures, which is stopping sea ice from forming. As The Independent UK noted, this means that global warming is here and even more worrisome effects are taking place than previously thought.

It was also noted that the Sun usually goes down in mid-October, serving as signal that the sea ice will come back as the water freezes. However, this year, it seems that the Arctic ice is actually melting, as intense heat has been stopping the much-needed process.

Scientists mentioned that the heat in the Arctic has never been seen in previous years, and temperatures are as much as 20 degrees Celsius hotter than they should be. The Washington Post also noted that the extent of sea ice covering the polar ocean is at its record low. While the ice is still freezing, as it usually does this time of the year, it is not as rapid as usual and is, in fact, lower in area than the previous record low in 2012.

Zack Labe, a doctorate student at the University of California at Irvine, who studies the Arctic, posted on his Twitter an image from the Danish Meteorological Institute, showing the high Arctic temperatures in areas above 80 degrees North Latitude. The temperatures, which used to be around -25 degrees Celsius, now only comes at around -5 degrees.

Daniel Swain, a climate scientists from UCLA, also said on his Twitter stream, "Despite onset of #PolarNight, temperatures near #NorthPole increasing. Extraordinary situation right now in #Arctic, w/record low #seaice."

It is not yet the end: weather in the Arctic could change swiftly as temperatures cool down. However, the record low sea ice and unprecedented warmth in the region is consistent with today's trend -- change is coming and not necessarily for the better.