The ice in the Arctic is melting quickly, especially in summer. But from an ecosystem perspective, the melting of sea ice can also benefit certain species.

Less ice in the Arctic in the summer will allow the sun's rays to penetrate the sea and stimulate photosynthesis, which could provide better opportunities for certain plants and marine animals.

This is the perspective from Karl Attard, Assistant Professor in Marine Science at the Department of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, who researches the marine environment in the Arctic.

"Plants in the sea need sunlight for photosynthesis. As the amount of sea ice in the Arctic decreases, more light will penetrate the oceans and boost photosynthetic growth. The melting ice will probably create a different, more productive ecosystem", says Karl Attard, and continues:

"With my research, I would like to come up with an answer to what an ice-free Arctic Ocean in summer will look like. Will it become an oasis of life?"

Forecasts show that major Arctic coastal seas will become ice-free within the next 5-10 years, and the ice pack might disappear completely in the summer as early as 2035.