News Climate

Human CO2 emissions put Arctic on track to be ice-free by 2050

For each metric ton of carbon dioxide released, a queen mattress‒sized chunk of sea ice vanishes

sea ice

THIN ICE  Arctic sea ice could vanish sooner than previously thought, according to new calculations of carbon dioxide’s direct ice-melting effects.

Patrick Kelley/U.S. Coast Guard

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

The average American’s carbon dioxide emissions are responsible for shrinking Arctic sea ice by nearly 50 square meters each year.