The minimum summertime volume of Arctic sea ice fell to a record low last year, researchers said in a study to be published shortly, suggesting that thinning of the ice had outweighed a recovery in area.
The study estimated that last year broke the previous, 2007 record for the minimum volume of ice, which is calculated from a combination of sea ice area and thickness.
The research adds to a picture of rapid climate change at the top of the world that could see the Arctic Ocean ice-free within decades, spurring new oil exploration opportunities but possibly also disrupted weather patterns far afield and a faster rise in sea levels.
The authors developed a model predicting thickness across the Arctic Ocean based on actual observations of winds, air and ocean temperatures.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/8746165/Arctic-sea-ice-falls-to-record-low.html