What Does The Slowdown In Arctic Sea Ice Melting Actually Mean For Climate Change?

Melting sea iceDespite a heatwave-heavy year that climate change experts have chalked down to climate change, scientists have found something many of us might not have expected in the Arctic. There’s been a “dramatic” slowdown in the melting of Arctic sea ice over the past 20 years, the decline of which is a major concern for climate scientists.The research shows that there’s been a “minimal” increase in ice melting since about 2005, meaning it’s melting at a much slower rate than before this period (between 1979 and now, the amount of Arctic sea ice available in September, when it’s at its lowest, has halved).What’s more, the paper says this trend “could plausibly persist another five to 10 years.” But we know that CO2 emissions have continued to rise, that the earth is getting unsustainably hot, and that, in short, global warming is only expected to get worse. So how does this change make sense, and what does it actually mean about the risks of climate change?The change is likely only temporary Speaking to HuffPost UK, Johan Griffiths, chief meteorologist at environmental solutions company KISTERS, said: “The most crucial thing to understand is that, hopeful as it may seem, the recent slowdown in Arctic sea ice melt doesn’t mean climate change is easing.“Instead, what we’re seeing is the influence of the Earth’s natural climate variations. These shifts in ocean and atmospheric patterns can, for a time, offset the effects of global warming.” The decreased melting of Arctic sea ice is probably due to changes in ocean currents, which have recently seen less warm water pass by the sea ice.But this is part of the natural cycles of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans – these current cycles are not going to last forever.“The facts are clear: Arctic sea ice today still covers far less area than it did a generation ago, and once these natural cycles swing back the other way, the rate of melting could pick up again, potentially even faster than before,” Griffiths said. Indeed, the researchers expect ice melting to happen at a “faster-than-average” rate once these changes stop. “This slowdown is merely a temporary reprieve, and the long-term picture remains concerning, as we will likely continue to see ice loss driven by the accelerating change in our climate.” The ice is not rebuildingWe still have far less Arctic ice than we should due to global warming – ice which has not regrown in this 20-year cycle.And though the melting seems to have slowed, Professor Andrew Shepherd told The Guardian: “We know that the Arctic sea ice pack is also thinning, and so even if the area was not reducing, the volume still is. Our data show that since 2010, the average October thickness has fallen by 0.6cm per year”. This is not a sign that global warming is not real or is not dangerous. As the scientists note, “Overall, while it may sound surprising that Arctic sea ice loss has slowed down even as global temperatures hit record highs, the climate modelling evidence suggests we should expect periods like this to occur somewhat frequently.” Related...Our Four Seasons Are Breaking Down – Here’s What Climate Scientists Say Comes NextThe UN's Decision To Let Countries Sue Each Other Over Climate Change Is A Regrettable NecessityFixing UK Housing Must Be A Priority As We Adapt To Our New Climate Reality, MP Warns

Comments

Breaking news

Mum-of-three who shared TikToks of dying husband shot him and two of their children dead

Metro

Comments

Breaking news

Mum-of-three who shared TikToks of dying husband shot him and two of their children dead

‘Frankenstein’ rabbits with tentacles seen in the US – should humans be worried?

Menendez brothers parole hearing: Everything you need to know about the case

My Doctors Misdiagnosed Me, And It Cost Me Everything. It Took Years To Get My Life Back.

New Asylum Numbers Show Labour Face Nightmare Trying To Achieve Key Election Pledge

What Does The Slowdown In Arctic Sea Ice Melting Actually Mean For Climate Change?

Kristian Nairn Quits Strictly Come Dancing Line-Up On Medical Grounds

Missouri resident dies from brain-eating amoeba after water skiing in Lake of the Ozarks

Fan, 32, accused of throwing sex toy at 12-year-old girl during WNBA game

Wyoming man indicted for allegedly hitting wolf with snowmobile, bringing it to bar and killing it

Former top aide to NYC mayor among 7 facing new charges in City Hall corruption probe

Musk must face lawsuit brought by voters he convinced to sign petition in $1 million-a-day election giveaway, judge says

Humpy Wheeler, the 'P.T. Barnum of motorsports,' dies at 86

New York court throws out $500M fraud ruling against Trump after blockbuster lawsuit from Letitia James

Hurricane Erin live updates: Coastal flood warning in effect for NYC after storm pounds North Carolina

Six Flags’ slow summer leads to $100 million in losses as investors launch an investigation into ‘fraud’ at parks

Luxury real estate agent, 75, accused of biting child’s arm during free t-shirt grab during concert in the Hamptons

James Dobson, influential Christian leader and presidential advisor, dies at 89

House Democrats launch investigation into Paramount merger and ‘bribe’ to Trump

Met Office reveals weather Brits can expect over bank holiday weekend

Thousands of alarms used by older people could suddenly stop working

Man arrested for ‘multiple murders’ after four bodies pulled out of the River Seine in Paris

Children whose parents did not go to university more likely to develop an eating disorder

Court ruling complicates UK government’s efforts to house asylum seekers

Italian divers water-blast the popular underwater statue of Christ off Portofino

Fungus-encrusted zombie spiders are now being found in America and freaking out homeowners

Lawyers ask judge to order ICE to free Spanish-language journalist from immigration detention

JD Vance lauds Trump’s ‘genius’ as he tells Democrats to ‘stop sounding like crazy people’

Voices: ‘This is not patriotism’: Readers clash over St George’s Cross flag displays

12 movies premiering at the Venice Film Festival to get excited about

Aging U.S. railroad bridges are self-inspected and their findings are kept secret

Taking ICE to the skies: Noem wants a whole fleet of DHS owned planes to fly deportees back to their home countries

How Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize plan to protect 14 million acres of Mayan forest

5 WiFi killers hiding in your home and how to beat them in 30 seconds

Historic artefact from Battle of Culloden sells for almost £19,000 at auction

Falkirk finance chief warns economic outlook for all Scottish councils 'bleak'

Falkirk swimming pools safe from closure as record numbers attending lessons

Boots protein powder shoppers say 'takes away cravings and cuts bloating'

70-year-old gran saddles up for 1000-mile charity cycle from Land's End to John O' Groats

'It's pronounced Pree-mark' as Hamilton store does fun rebrand to mark half-century

Four men charged after cops seize drugs and cash in Aberdeen raids

Average two and five year mortgages below 5% for first time since 2023

Police forked out &#163;500,000 in compensation last month as officers missed time off during Trump visit

Experienced skydiver&#160;deliberately fell to her death, coroner finds

Skydiver Jade Damarell left heartbreaking notes before 15,500ft death plunge

MIKEY SMITH: 10 unhinged Donald Trump moments as JD Vance gets very rude heckle

Missing pregnant teen's chilling six-word text before body found in 'murder' probe

Strictly Come Dancing's Kristian Nairn quits before first live show with sad statement

Urgent warning to dog owners over ‘toxic’ Broadwater beauty spot as pet dies

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Bruckner to make last-minute plea before jail release

Celebrity Traitors first look as stars 'buried alive' and 'trapped in pipe tunnel'

Brit gamer watches friend 1000miles away killed by ‘complete stranger’ on livestream

Daughter heard mum beg for life before killer beat her to death on Ring doorbell

‘Most beautiful killer in the ocean’ closes seven-mile stretch of beaches in Spain

Exact date London Underground workers will stage seven days of strikes revealed

Wired and Business Insider remove ‘AI-written’ freelance articles

Women are flocking to DC for a historic pro baseball tryout. Here are some players to know

Major retailers warn Reeves tax rises in autumn could push up prices

US applications for jobless benefits rise last week, but layoffs remain historically low

Tesco raises price of meal deal by 25p

Police forked out £500,000 in compensation last month as officers missed time off during Trump visit

Experienced skydiver deliberately fell to her death, coroner finds