MELTING ICE CAPS
Although the research station is far from major sources of human pollution, atmospheric circulation brings air from Europe and North America into the Arctic region.
“There is less human influence here and most of the pollution comes straight here at this time of the year. From now on levels will reduce until the end of August when they will pick back up,” said Strom.
“It is clearly the effect of human activity. Even if we stopped emitting now, we would have to live with this ... we will have to live with it for thousands of years, but that does not mean we should do nothing.”
The figures come as the former US vice president Al Gore hosts a conference in Tromso, northern Norway, on melting Arctic ice. Last week he told the US senate committee on energy and commerce that the Arctic was melting at an “unprecedented” rate.
“The most recent 11 summers have all experienced melting greater than the average 35-year time series,” he said.
He is expected to warn ministers in polar regions that the Arctic ice cap may totally disappear in as little as five years if nothing is done to curb greenhouse emissions.
Earlier this month, US scientists reported that annually forming sea ice in the Arctic region covered roughly the same area as in previous years, but had thinned significantly.
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