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Akbon
Arctic To Be Functionally Ice-free In The Next 50 Years, Study Says
~11.6 mins read
Arctic to be ‘functionally ice-free’ in the next 50 years, study says
globalnews.ca
Aug 5, 2021 2:56 AM
Researchers at the University of California’s Center for Climate Science say a “functionally ice-free†Arctic can be expected within the next 50 years.
A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change predicts that if the Earth continues at its current rate of greenhouse gas emissions, Arctic sea ice would regress to levels not high enough to perform its function of reflecting heat back — levels that can be reached as early as September 2044 and no later than 2067.
Previous models of sea ice melt have disagreed widely on a consensus for prediction, with some projecting an ice-free September by 2026 or one as late as 2132, according to a press release from UCLA.
September is used as the benchmark for models because it’s the time when sea ice levels are at their lowest, due to the melt from summer heat.
Chad Thackeray, the study’s lead author, told Global News that one reason why predictions differ so much was in how they represent the sea ice Albedo feedback cycle — a process whereby current sea ice retreat reveals a darker seawater surface in the Arctic, allowing more sunlight to be absorbed and thus accelerating ice melt.
“It’s a positive feedback that sort of amplifies an initial change, sort of continues and continues in its cycle, and so this change can cause greater warming,†said Thackeray.
Thackeray and co-author Alex Hall made use of a new method to model their prediction of sea ice melt.
Using 23 different models of ice melt and comparing them to about 30 years of satellite data, Thackeray and Hall isolated the most consistent results to narrow the range of their prediction, picking the best six overall.
Knowledge of the Earth’s melting sea ice is not new. According to a press release from UCLA, satellite images have shown that since 1979, sea ice levels in September have been declining at a rate of 13 per cent every decade.
Currently, sea ice in September averages a surface area minimum of five to six million square kilometres. Thackeray said that once the sea ice melts to an area under one million square kilometres, the Arctic would then be defined as “functionally ice-free.â€
“So once we get below this sort of one-million kilometres squared, it’s seen as somewhat of a tipping point, where it might take a substantial amount of time for the ice to be able to grow back after its completely disappeared,†Thackeray told Global News.
Thackeray’s study did, however, have its limits — geographic data was limited to sea ice in the area 70 to 90 degrees North latitude, according to Thackeray.
“There is a certain of the Canadian Arctic that’s cut off, say like the Northwest Passage route,†said Thackeray.
“Essentially just to simplify our study area, you have less to interact with.â€
Despite the limit of the area study, Thackeray said that the results of the study are still the same regardless of the measurement.
“Those aren’t the areas that are holding on to the ice the longest in the future. It’s areas right around the northern coast of Greenland and the far north Canadian archipelago,†said Thackeray.
“These areas below 70 aren’t the areas that hold on the ice the longest anyways — they’ll be free of ice even sooner than that.â€
When asked when or how long the sea ice in the Arctic would take to grow back, Thackeray responded with, “We don’t have a scenario for re-growth.â€
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Akbon
All Airtel Customers To Enjoy Up To 15GB Free Data On The Amazing Data Bundles
~1.9 mins read
Airtel Kenya has announced a new Amazing data bundle promotion that will see its customers enjoy up to 15GB free data.
The new daily, weekly and monthly data promotion will allow customers to get 500MB free data daily depending on their data plan of choice. A customer who buys the daily bundle will get 500MB free data for 24 hours, a weekly bundle will give the customer 500MB every day for 7 days which is a total of 3.5 GB free data. Heavy data users who purchase monthly bundles will receive 500MB data daily for 30 days which is a total of 15GB free.
For example, a customer who buys the 1000 monthly data bundle will get 12GB and free 500MB daily for 30 days hence the customer will have enjoyed 27GB worth of data at the end of the month.
The current unprecedented times have greatly transformed the lives of Kenyans and given rise to new ways of conducting business, studying and communicating. The need to access tools and resources that further enhance people’s way of living have become part and parcel of what they are looking for in the recent days. Airtel has therefore continued to sustain its quest to offer innovative, affordable and creative solutions to Kenyans. By getting the free data, Airtel customers will enjoy faster data speeds through the 4G network, whilst paying less, saving more and enjoying great value for money.
In a statement, Airtel Kenya Managing Director, Prasanta Das Sarma said; “As a company we are cognizant of the prevailing trying times we are living in and understand that our customers’ needs especially with regards to accessing the internet for various purposes have increased substantially. It’s on this premise that we continue to offer our customers great value for money through our products and services whilst allowing fast Internet access through our 4G network. We are currently in the midst of a major rollout of new 2G/3G/4G sites across the country to ensure that our existing and new customers who join the network, will enjoy industry best data offerings. I am confident that our consumers will love this new offering as it gives extra data to all our consumers irrespective of whether they are daily, weekly or monthly bundle users.â€
Airtel continues to enjoy significant growth in the telecommunication industry by currently connecting over 14 million customers across the country through voice and data services and with a market share of over 26%. The company continues to realize its vision which is to enrich the lives of its customers by maintaining and evolving strong customer values, competitive products and services as well as expanding its network in order to reach all Kenyans.
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