Satellite images obtained by NASA in late August of 2008 revealed that the Arctic icecap has become completely surrounded by water. For the first time in human history, the North Pole has become an island, as melting ice has caused it to separate from neighboring landmasses.Telegraph: Arctic becomes an island as ice melts (August 31, 2008)
Quotes
"The rate of change is clearly faster than nearly all the models predict, which has huge implications for climate change and how to tackle it."—Lewis Gordon PughTelegraph: Arctic becomes an island as ice melts (August 31, 2008)
"The passages are open. It is an historic event. We are going to see this more and more as the years go by."—Mark Serreze, National Snow and Ice Data CenterMail Online: The North Pole becomes an 'island'... (September 2, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
For the first time in approximately 125,000 years, both the northwest and northeast Arctic passages are open simultaneouslyIndependent: For the first time in human history... (August 31, 2008)
-
Fact:
The opening of the Arctic passages cuts shipping routes by thousands of miles
-
Fact:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper requested that all ships planning to travel through the northwest passage report to Canadian authoritiesIndependent: For the first time in human history... (August 31, 2008)
-
Fact:
Scientists have predicted that the North Pole could be free of ice during the summer months in 5 yearsMail Online: The North Pole becomes an 'island'... (September 2, 2008)
-
Fact:
The European Space Agency reported that the Arctic ice cap may reach a record low in September of 2008Independent: For the first time in human history... (August 31, 2008)
