Study: Ice melt may be faster than thought

BOULDER, Colo., March 23 (UPI) -- National Center for Atmospheric Research and University of Arizona scientists say Arctic-Antarctic ice may melt more quickly than expected this century.

The researchers said they blended two computer model studies with paleoclimate records, determining Arctic summers by 2100 may be as warm as those of 130,000 years ago, when sea levels were 20 feet higher than current levels.

The Boulder, Colo-based, NCAR's Bette Otto-Bliesner and Arizona's Jonathan Overpeck said their findings were derived from ancient coral reefs, ice cores and other natural climate records, as well as computer simulations of past, present and future climates.

They report on their work in papers appearing in the journal Science.