Drift ice, an annual winter phenomenon in Japan's northern seas, faces a bleak future as scientists issue warnings about its dwindling presence. Hokkaido University researchers have conducted a study showing that over the span of 30 years, the Sea of Okhotsk's floating ice has not only decreased in coverage area but has also experienced a 30% reduction in thickness.
Each winter, ice floes, also known as drift ice, grace various sections of Hokkaido's northeastern coast along the Sea of Okhotsk. However, despite the visually stunning sight of vast ice blocks, scientists highlight that the ice is notably thinner than in previous years. Dr. Kay Ohshima and his team have presented data at an international scientific conference indicating that the thickness of ice in the southern Sea of Okhotsk is diminishing at a rate of 7.4 centimeters per decade. This gradual decline suggests that if current trends persist, there may be periods in the future where no ice floes will reach Hokkaido's coast.
Moreover, the impact of global warming on drift ice extends beyond thinning ice. Professor Humio Mitsudera's use of sophisticated models based on U.N. climate change scenarios predicts a drastic reduction in drift ice coverage by 2050, even under scenarios of low greenhouse gas emissions. The implications of such a decline in drift ice could have far-reaching effects on marine ecosystems and fisheries, as the ice plays a crucial role in supplying essential nutrients like iron, necessary for the growth of phytoplankton.