Scientists watch Arctic cyclone chew up sea ice

Arctic scientists are watching in fascination this week as a raging summer cyclone tears through the rotting sea ice of Canada’s North.

Some say the effect of the blasting winds could be greater than last summer’s giant cyclone, which contributed to record low sea-ice levels.

This storm may not be as strong as the one last summer that destroyed 800,000 square kilometres of ice.

But this year’s ice is weaker and thinner than last year’s and has already been battered by previous cyclones.

The shrinking extent of that ice has been linked with southern weather events such as heavy, long-lasting rain.

Scientists say such huge storms are one of the great unknowns in understanding the changing Arctic climate.