Sea ice decline and 21st century trans-Arctic shipping routes

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Melia, Nat, Haines, Keith, Hawkins, Ed
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2016
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/66509/; https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/66509/7/Melia_et_al-2016-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf; https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/66509/1/melia-shipping-final.pdf

The observed decline in Arctic sea ice is projected to continue, opening shorter trade routes across the Arctic Ocean, with potentially global economic implications. Here we quantify, using CMIP5 global climate model simulations calibrated to remove spatial biases, how projected sea ice loss might increase opportunities for Arctic-transit shipping. By mid-century for standard Open Water vessels, the frequency of navigable periods doubles, with routes across the central Arctic becoming available. A sea ice – ship speed relationship is used to show that European routes to Asia typically become 10 days faster via the Arctic than alternatives by mid-century, and 13 days faster by late-century, while North American routes become 4 days faster. Future greenhouse-gas emissions have a larger impact by late-century; the shipping season reaching 4-8 months in RCP8.5, double that of RCP2.6, both with substantial inter-annual variability. Moderately ice-strengthened vessels likely enable Arctic transits for 10-12 months by late century.