By RIA Novosti
St. Petersburg : Scientists have reported substantial changes in the climate of the Arctic Region, a senior official at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) said Thursday.
“We have observed global climate changes in the Polar Ocean,” said Igor Ashik, acting head of the AARI ocean science department.
He said the ocean was clearing itself of drifting ice “for the first time in decades of Polar research”.
The researcher said temperatures on the ocean surface had also increased by five to seven degrees centigrade. “Never before have the temperatures in the (ocean) water risen this high,” Ashik said.
However, he said scientists could not for the time being forecast the consequences of the phenomena, which could be serious if the process proves irrevocable.
“The de-icing of the ocean currently poses no threat, but if Arctic and Antarctic ice starts melting, we could be speaking about a significant rise in the level of the world oceans and an impact on the lives of people inhabiting coastal areas,” scientist said.