ANCHORAGE, Alaska —
Satellite images show Arctic sea ice in July reached its lowest level since 1979, according to researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado.
"What we are seeing here is certainly the sea ice cover is responding to climate change, the Arctic is getting warmer and the sea ice is responding to that," Director Mark Serreze said during a phone interview.
The previous record low for July was 2007. That year went on to be the lowest year on record, and analysts say this year could break that record.
A shift in weather patterns during the last two weeks of July slowed down the sea ice loss.
Scientists say the loss of sea ice is having a huge impact on wildlife in the arctic, especially polar bears and Pacific walrus, marine mammals that spend most of their time living and feeding out on the sea ice.
