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arctic ocean could be ice-free for part of the year as soon as 2044
On July 20, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy steamed south in the Arctic Ocean toward the edge of the sea ice. The ICESCAPE mission, or "Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment," is NASA's two-year shipborne investigation to study how changing conditions in the Arctic affect the ocean's chemistry and ecosystems. The bulk of the research takes place in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas in summer 2010 and 2011. Credit: NASA/Kathryn Hansen NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

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Chad Thackeray and Alex Hall in Phys.Org: Arctic Ocean could be ice-free for part of the year as soon as 2044

Chad Thackery and Alex Hall research the surface’s reflectivity of sunlight, or albedo, that causes greater local warming, which in turn leads to further ice melt.  They find that the Arctic Ocean may be ice-free for part of the year as soon as 2044.