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The Arctic Ocean\u2019s sea ice is melting rapidly this summer at a pace that could eclipse last year\u2019s record-breaking retreat. Scientists, who previously charted a moderate recovery for this year, modified their predictions after recent storms over Alaska\u2019s Beaufort Sea accelerated the disintegration. With this year\u2019s melting of Arctic sea ice set to be as bad or perhaps even worse than last year, scientists charting the changes have even modified their long term projections. Whereas an ice-free Arctic summer was originally forecast for 2070, new estimates place the likelihood of such a scenario at only five years away. The unprecedented thawing of the North Pole will have far reaching implications for the earth\u2019s environment. The Arctic ice cover\u2019s rapid retreat will raise global sea levels, affect weather patterns in the northern hemisphere, heat the earth\u2019s temperature and increase threats against local wildlife such as polar bears that depend on sea ice for hunting. It will also open access to previously unreachable oil and gas deposits prompting northern nations to set claims to undersea territories. <\/p>\n