Melting Arctic ice could cool Northern Europe, scientists warn

Scientists from UiT The Arctic University of Norway have expressed concern about the melting of Arctic sea ice affecting global ocean circulation. The research shows that melting ice in the Arctic is sending large amounts of fresh water into the Nordic Seas, a key area for heat transfer through the oceans, which could lead to a drop in temperatures across northern Europe.

Lead researcher Mohamed Ezat from the iC3 Polar Research Hub explained that past climate data indicate that significant ice melt likely disrupted ocean currents and caused northern Europe to experience cooling. Ezat’s team examined sediment cores from the Nordic Seas, which contain information about the state of the ocean more than 100,000 years ago, during a period called the Last Interglacial. They found that during this time, rising temperatures caused the ice to melt, releasing fresh water into the ocean and disrupting the usual currents.

Future risks to climate stability

The research highlights that similar changes could happen today if the Arctic continues to warm. Ezat warns that the climate system is very sensitive to changes in ice cover and temperature. As the Arctic moves toward predicted ice-free summers by 2050, these shifts in ocean currents could have significant impacts. The team’s study in Nature Communications hopes to help future climate models better anticipate these changes.

Sediment core analysis for climate history

By examining chemical markers in the sediment cores, researchers were able to reconstruct ocean temperatures, freshwater sources and deep-water formation processes during the last interglacial. This evidence provides insight into how warming climate affected ocean circulation in the past, with possible lessons for today.