As sea ice shrinks to record lows, Professor Wadhams warns a 'global disaster' is now unfolding in northern latitudes

"This collapse, I predicted would occur in 2015-16 at which time the summer Arctic (August to September) would become ice-free. The final collapse towards that state is now happening and will probably be complete by those dates".

Wadhams says the implications are "terrible". 

"The positives are increased possibility of Arctic transport, increased access to Arctic offshore oil and gas resources. 

The main negative is an acceleration of global warming."