The Arctic: here today, gone in 40 years

A satellite image of the existing Arctic sea ice. Photograph: Nasa/AP

A new 10-second animation, provides a scary illustration of the possible impact of climate change over the next 40 years.

Produced by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado it shows the possible fate of the Arctic ice cap, based on new computer modelling. At first, the size of summer ice fluctuates as you might expect, but after about 2025 it disappears faster than a snowball in hell.

The scientists explain that after 2025 a "positive feedback loop" kicks in, with very negative consequences for the Arctic. "As the ice retreats, the ocean transports more heat to the Arctic and the open water absorbs more sunlight, further accelerating the rate of warming and leading to the loss of more ice," says Marika Holland, one of the scientists who conducted the research.