September Arctic Sea Ice

Over the last few decades, the average global temperature has been on the rise—and temperatures in the Arctic have risen at nearly twice the rate as temperatures elsewhere on the planet. As temperatures rise in the Arctic, the extent of sea ice declines. Sea ice is highly reflective of the sun’s energy; therefore, reductions in sea ice impact Earth’s radiation budget. Rather than reflecting most of the sun’s energy, ice-free areas absorb sunlight causing subsequent warming of the ocean.