Is the Arctic ice pack growing?

Answer 1

Yes, it is increasing more rapidly in the Arctic than anywhere else in the world. It has increased several degrees celsius in the past century. This has been primary due to enhanced feedbacks that occur in this region.

Answer 2

Arctic Sea ice has been declining since 1979, when satellites began observing it. September (the minimum) ice cover has been decreasing at 11%/decade. While it has risen from its record low in 2007, it is still well below the mean for this time period. Additionally, 2 years does not make a trend, and the minimum in 2007 had to do with the dominant circulation of the atmosphere that summer.

Sea ice extent is only going to get so low, because even in a warming world it will still be very cold through the summer at the highest latitudes, and it will be difficult to melt the thick ice up there that had been freezing throughout the remainder of the season. The concern is that even more than 11%/decade has been lost in ice volume, which cannot be measured easily.A lot of "multiyear ice" has been flushed out through the Fram Strait in the last 15 years where it enters the North Atlantic and melts. This is very difficult to regenerate, especially when the Arctic continues to experience record warmth.

• In the 1980s average minimum Arctic sea ice was 7.4 million square kilometers.
• In the 1990s it was 6.8 million.
• In the 2000s it was 5.7 million.
• In 2012 it was 3.41 million, the lowest ever.

Scientists used to say the Arctic would be ice free by 2050. Now they think certainly by 2030, and perhaps even by about 2016.

The speed of events is why scientists are so worried. The only known way to stop this melt is to cut greenhouse emissions triggering these changes, and there are few signs of that occurring.

''This is absolutely the critical decade for action,'' said Australian climate expert Tim Flannery.

Answer 3

No, the Arctic ice pack has been steadily decreasing over the past few decades due to the effects of climate change. This trend has led to thinner ice and a reduction in overall ice coverage in the Arctic region.

Answer 4

Ice at the South Pole is getting larger. In September 2012, ice at the South Pole expanded to cover a larger area.

Answer 5

No. Over the time scale of years and decades, Arctic sea ice has been consistently decreasing by 11% every ten years.

Answer 6

Due to the gradual warming of the planet, the arctic ice is melting. Although Polar Bears may become extinct, it will open up a northern shipping passage.