Arctic Meltdown

Paul Dodd spent half of 2015 on an ice sheet floating at the top of the world. Dodd is an ocean scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute. He was on an expedition to the Arctic Ocean aboard a ship called the Lance.

From January to June, the Lance was anchored to ice floes near the North Pole. That far north, the winter sun rarely rises above the horizon. Temperatures often dip below -30°C (-22°F). That’s colder than a freezer!

Most Arctic voyages set out in summer, when conditions are less harsh. The Lance made the first scientific expedition in winter in 100 years. Scientists from around the world studied the climate, wildlife, and ice in the region. “It’s important to know what’s going on year-round,” says Dodd. 

Dodd wanted to study the Arctic because the ice there is disappearing. For much of this past year, ice covered less of the Arctic Ocean than ever before. Scientists aboard the Lance wanted to learn how these changes will affect wildlife in the Arctic—and climates all over the world. 

Paul Dodd spent half of 2015 on an ice sheet. It was floating at the top of the world. Dodd is an ocean scientist. He works at the Norwegian Polar Institute. He traveled to the Arctic Ocean on a ship called the Lance.

The Lance sat among ice floes near the North Pole. The ship stayed there from January to June. The winter sun doesn’t rise high in the sky that far north. Temperatures often dip below -30°C (-22°F). That’s colder than a freezer!

Most ships visit the Arctic in summer. Weather is less harsh then. The Lance’s trip was special. It was the first scientific trip in winter in 100 years. Scientists studied the climate, wildlife, and ice in the region. “It’s important to know what’s going on year-round,” says Dodd. 

Dodd wanted to study the Arctic because the ice there is melting. Ice covered less of the Arctic Ocean than ever before this past year. Scientists want to learn how these changes will affect life in the Arctic. The changes could also affect climates all over the world. 

Every winter, Arctic seawater freezes into massive ice floes up to 5 meters (16 feet) thick. The floes float on the ocean. Some of this ice naturally melts during the summer. But much of it stays frozen all year. 

Many Arctic animals depend on the ice. Walruses rest on ice floes between dives into the ocean to hunt shellfish. Polar bears roam ice floes to hunt seals. The seals raise their young on the ice.

Arctic seawater freezes into huge ice floes every winter. A floe can be up to 5 meters (16 feet) thick. The ice floats on the ocean. Some of it naturally melts during the summer. But much of it stays frozen all year. 

Many Arctic animals rely on the ice. Walruses rest on ice floes between dives into the ocean to hunt shellfish. Polar bears roam ice floes to hunt seals. The seals raise their young on the ice.

But in recent years, less ice has stayed frozen year-round. Warmer temperatures in the Arctic start melting ice earlier in the year. Many ice floes are smaller than they used to be.

In fact, there’s only half as much summer sea ice as there was 30 years ago, says Jeremy Mathis (see Shrinking Sea Ice). He’s a polar expert at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

That’s causing problems for Arctic wildlife. Polar bears can’t hunt enough prey. Seals don’t have ice on which to raise their young. And walruses are spending more time on land, where they can quickly run out of food.

But less ice has stayed frozen year-round in recent years. Warmer weather in the Arctic starts melting ice earlier in the year. Many ice floes are smaller than they used to be.

Thirty years ago there was a lot of summer sea ice (see Shrinking Sea Ice). Today there’s only half as much, says Jeremy Mathis. He’s a polar expert at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

That’s causing problems for Arctic wildlife. Polar bears can’t hunt enough seals. Seals don’t have ice on which to raise their young. And walruses are spending more time on land. There, they can quickly run out of food.

Dodd spent his time on the Lance studying the water under the ice floes. To reach the water, his team drilled a hole through several feet of ice. “It was so cold that the hole would form a new layer of ice overnight,” says Dodd.

The team observed the speed and direction of ocean currents beneath the floes. They wanted to know how the water’s movement and temperature affected the ice.

Dodd spent his time on the Lance studying the water under the ice floes. His team drilled a hole through the ice to reach the water. The hole was several feet deep. “It was so cold that the hole would form a new layer of ice overnight,” says Dodd.

The team studied the ocean currents beneath the floes. They measured their speed and direction. They wanted to learn how the water’s movement affected the ice. They also measured the water’s temperature.

Arctic ice acts like a mirror, reflecting the sun’s warm rays back into space. But when there’s less ice, more of the ocean is exposed. Unlike the ice, the dark water absorbs the sun’s energy. This extra heat melts even more of the remaining ice.  

If this cycle continues, Arctic summers could be completely ice-free by the year 2030. That would affect weather all over the globe, says Mathis. The extra heat in the ocean could cause more severe storms to form. And as ice melts, sea levels rise around the world.

The white ice floating in the Arctic Ocean acts like a mirror. It reflects the sun’s warm rays back into space. But less ice means more of the ocean is exposed. Unlike ice, the dark water absorbs the sun’s energy. This extra heat melts even more of the ice.  

Arctic summers could soon be totally ice-free if this cycle goes on. That could happen by the year 2030. It would affect weather all over the globe, says Mathis. A warmer ocean could cause more severe storms to form. It could also raise sea levels around the world.

The Arctic is changing quickly. But scientists hope that the melting can be slowed down. People around the world can help by producing fewer greenhouse gases. These gases—released when people burn fuels like gasoline—warm Earth’s atmosphere.

Many nations are already working toward this goal. In September, the U.S. and China joined dozens of other countries in pledging to limit the greenhouse gases they emit. Scientists hope this will help slow the warming of the planet and bring back some Arctic ice. 

The best way to predict the Arctic’s future is to gather more data about the changing environment, says Mathis. The winter measurements from the Lance are a good first step. 

No matter what happens, both Mathis and Dodd hope to continue studying the Arctic. “It will remain an incredibly special and unusual place to work,” says Dodd.

The Arctic is changing quickly. But scientists hope that the melting can be slowed down. People around the world can help by making fewer greenhouse gases. These gases are released when people burn fuels like gasoline. They warm Earth’s climate. 

Many nations are working toward this goal. Dozens of countries have agreed to limit their greenhouse gases. The U.S. and China joined them in September. Scientists hope this will help slow the warming of the planet. That would help bring back some Arctic ice. 

The Arctic is still changing. The best way to predict its future is to gather more data, says Mathis. The winter trip on the Lance was a good first step. 

Both Mathis and Dodd hope to keep studying the Arctic no matter what happens. “It will remain an incredibly special and unusual place to work,” says Dodd.