Arctic Ocean sea ice has dwindled to its second-lowest level since satellite observations started more than three decades ago in 1979, the University of Colorado Boulder’s National Snow & Ice Data Center recently warned.

Figures released by the National Snow & Ice Data Center show that the total extent of the Arctic Ocean areas with a minimum of 15 per cent sea-ice fell to around 4.33 million sq. km or 1.67 million sq. miles as of 9th of September. This is second-lowest figure after 2007’s record-low figure of 1.61 million sq. miles.

This year’s minimum is more than 1 million sq. miles below the September average recorded between 1979 and 2000. It should be noted here that an area of 1 million sq. miles is equivalent to around a third of Australia’s total landmass.

The Boulder, Colorado-based center also warned that the Artic could become devoid of ice during the summer by 2030 or 2040.

Speaking on the findings, NSIDC Director Mark Serreze said, “Every summer that we see a very low ice extent in September sets us up for a similar situation the following year.”

The five biggest melts in the last three decades took place over the last five years, and the thinning of ice is still going on.

Serreze described the worsening situation as "the Arctic death spiral," which he said couldn’t be halted even by employing dramatic worldwide cuts in carbon emissions.