Arctic sea ice has declined by more than 42% since 1979, when regular satellite monitoring began.
Arctic sea ice has declined by more than 42% since 1979, when regular satellite monitoring began. As the ice grows thinner and recedes, more water is exposed to sunlight. Ice reflects sunlight but dark water absorbs it, advancing warming and accelerating ice loss. Climate models indicate that the Arctic will see ice-free summers within the coming decades, and scientists still aren’t sure what this will mean for life on Earth.
Researchers have known for some time that fine-grained dust from space blankets the surface of Earth, falling from the cosmos at a constant rate and settling into ocean sediments. A study published Nov. 6 in Science shows that tracking where cosmic dust has fallen — and where it hasn’t — can reveal how sea ice coverage has changed over millennia.
“If we can project the timing and spatial patterns of ice coverage decline in the future, it will help us understand warming, predict changes to food webs and fishing, and prepare for geopolitical shifts,” said Frankie Pavia, a UW assistant professor of oceanography, who led the study.
Read More: University of Washington
Image: Ice coverage in the Arctic sea is rapidly declining, which causes the remaining ice to melt faster and alters nutrient availability. In a University of Washington-led study, researchers show how particles from space can help recreate ice conditions over the past 30,000 years. (Credit: Bonnie Light/University of Washington)
