https://www.wired.com/story/russias-laptev-sea-should-have-started-to-freeze-by-now/

Normally, the ‘birthplace of ice’ freezes by late October. For the first time in recorded history, it hasn’t. That could have knock-on effects across the Arctic.

THIS STORY ORIGINALLYappeared inThe Guardianand is part of theClimate Deskcollaboration.

For the first time since records began, the main nursery of Arctic sea ice in Siberia has yet to start freezing in late October.

The delayed annual freeze in the Laptev Sea has been caused by freakishly protracted warmth in northern Russia and the intrusion of Atlantic waters, say climate scientists who warn of possible knock-on effects across the polar region.

Ocean temperatures in the area recently climbed to more than 5 C above average, following arecord breaking heat waveand the unusually early decline of last winter’s sea ice.

The trapped heat takes a long time to dissipate into the atmosphere, even at this time…