Scientists warning Arctic sea ice approaching record low winter maximum

Scientists are warning that this winter’s Arctic sea ice could turn out to be the lowest area ever measured.

Researchers at the U.S.−based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say they won’t decide the official maximum for Arctic sea ice for a week or two yet.

But the amount of ice on northern waters has been setting daily record lows for weeks now and a new all−time low is not far off.

A warm winter has seen above−freezing temperatures at the North Pole and months of temperatures never recorded before.

The U.S. scientists say the warm Arctic is only slightly affected by this year’s strong El Nino and is largely the result of ongoing climate change.