An area of formerly-permanent ice the size of Pakistan melted away from the Arctic between 2004 and 2005. For comparison, historical data shows that the Arctic has been losing about 0.7% of ice per year (starting around the time of the industrial revolution, how odd). That is 18 times the previous rate.

Why is this bad? Because arctic ice reflects the sun’s energy back into space. Open water absorbs the sun’s energy and increases the rate of global warming.

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