💧🌏 Greg CocksFeb 5, 2025
'Last Ice Area' In The Arctic Could Disappear Much Sooner Than Previously Thought
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https://phys.org/news/2025-01-ice-area-arctic-sooner-previously.html <-- shared technical article
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https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02034-5 <-- shared paper
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#GIS #spatial #mapping #Arctic #Canada #LastIceArea #LIA #icedependent #species #ArcticOcean #icefree #climatechange #ecology #polarbears #belugas #bowheadwhales #walruses #ringedseals #beardedseals #ivorygulls #spatialanalysis #model #modeling #spatiotemporal #Tuvaijuittuq #FirstNation #inuit #indigenous #seaice #simulations #archipelago
'Last Ice Area' in the Arctic could disappear much sooner than previously thought

The Arctic's "Last Ice Area" (LIA)—a vital habitat for ice-dependent species—might disappear within a decade after the central Arctic Ocean becomes ice-free in summer, which is expected to occur sometime around mid-century, a new study by McGill University researchers using a high-resolution model has found.

Show threadanna_lillith 🇺🇦🌱🐖Oct 14, 2023

Along with many other dangers, both species are threatened by #ClimateChange, which is melting the sea ice they need to give birth, nurse and rear pups. #RingedSeals, named for the ring patterns scattered across their plump bodies, build snow caves over breathing holes in the ice to #shelter pups from icy winds and predators. #BeardedSeals get their name from their thick, elegantly curved whiskers and are the largest seals in the #Arctic.

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https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/bearded_ringed_and_spotted_seals/index.html/?utm_source=eeo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eeo1214&utm_term=Oceans&emci=6e7ee135-af68-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&emdi=0598131a-4569-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&ceid=2243774

Bearded, ringed and spotted seals