Arctic sea ice reaches historic low as scientists warn of regional, global impact

Today scientists said Arctic sea ice cover has likely melted to its lowest point of the year -- the most severe melting in more than three decades, since satellites began tracking the annual ice melt. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado, that low point took place on September 16, when ice receded to 1.32 million square miles. That size is smaller than the previous record in 2007 by a distance larger than the state of Texas and that gap has exposed vast stretches of Greenland and open water. The Data Center now says this year’s level will be nearly 50 percent lower than the average from 1979 to 2000. The ice melt could have implications for local wildlife, economic development in the region and global warming. For more, we’re joined by Benjamin Orlove, professor of climate policy at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. He joins us from New York.

To view recent images of Arctic sea melt: http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/