Greenhouse gas emissions at current rates will eliminate Arctic sea ice by the 2030s or possibly the 2050s with reduced emissions.
New research published in Nature Communications confirms earlier predictions of an ice-free Arctic.
Human-made greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from fossil fuels and deforestation, are the primary cause of Arctic sea ice decline.
Previous climate models underestimated the decline, leading to adjustments for future predictions.
The loss of Arctic sea ice will have significant global impacts, including more extreme weather events.
Arctic sea ice loss can intensify global warming through the thawing of Siberian permafrost.
We need to evaluate the consequences of Arctic sea ice loss and develop adaptation measures alongside emission reduction policies.
Professor Seung-Ki Min stresses the urgency of addressing the potential disappearance of Arctic sea ice.