Science Quickly
Could Freezing Arctic Sea Ice Combat Climate Change?
May 16, 2025
Alec Luhn, a Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Fellow and feature author on Arctic sea ice in Scientific American, shares his insights from reporting in the Arctic. He discusses the alarming 40% shrinkage of year-round sea ice and controversial geoengineering solutions like Real Ice aimed at refreezing it. Luhn examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of these initiatives as the U.K. government invests in experimental approaches. He also highlights the ecological impacts on Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities relying on this increasingly fragile environment.
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Quick takeaways
- Efforts like Real Ice aim to artificially thicken Arctic sea ice to combat climate change, reflecting sunlight and mitigating warming effects.
- Indigenous communities in the Arctic voice concerns about geoengineering's ecological impacts and emphasize the need for informed consent and respect for traditional knowledge.
Deep dives
The Urgency of Arctic Ice Melting
Climate change is causing significant melting of Arctic sea ice, which poses serious environmental concerns. As ice reflects sunlight, its reduction leads to increased absorption of heat by ocean waters, resulting in higher global temperatures. Studies predict that by the 2030s, the Arctic could experience complete summer ice melt, contributing to a positive feedback loop of warming. Efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions have been insufficient, fueling interest in alternative geoengineering methods to artificially create and maintain ice.
