Artic scientists believe that the accelerated melting of the ice cap could cause a disaster around the globe. According to the Artic Resilience Report, the effects of Artic warming could reach all the way to the Indian Ocean.
(graphic courtesy of OnTheWorldMap)
This puts climate change at a global level out of hand. Scientists describe the temperatures in the Artic as “off the charts” because they are higher than normal for this time of year. “The warning signals are getting louder”, according to Marcus Carson of the Stockholm Environment Institute. The Arctic ice cap plays an important role in cooling the global climate system. When the sun’s radiation hits the ice cap it gets reflected back into space. This helps to keep sea and air temperatures cool when winds and ocean currents swirl over and under it.