Polar ice melting rapidly

Boulder, Colo. -- The rapid disintegration of sea ice in the Arctic region could set a record this year, U.S. researchers say.

The University of Colorado at Boulder said there is a 92 percent chance the 2007 September minimum extent of sea ice across the Arctic region will set an all-time record low. Researchers had previously said the chance of setting a record was only 33 percent.

The forecast was changed after the rapid disintegration of ice in July, researcher Sheldon Drobot of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics said Friday in a release.

"During the first week in July, the Arctic sea ice started to disappear at rates we had never seen before," said Drobot.

The record low September minimum for sea ice, set in 2005, is 2.15 million square miles. For 2007, the highest probability minimum extent is 1.96 million square miles.

The area of an ocean covered by at least 15 percent of ice has been declining since concerted satellite measuring efforts began in the late 1970s, the report said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.