Arctic Temperatures Are Rising Twice As Fast As The Rest Of The World

Environment





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The average temperature in the Arctic has warmed by 3°C above the 1900s average. NOAA Photo Library/Flickr CC BY 2.0

Things aren’t looking good for the Arctic. This year was the warmest on record for the region, with the peak ice extent occurring 15 days earlier than average – the lowest extent since records began. In addition to the rising air temperatures and decreased ice cover (not just of sea ice, but also of Greenland’s ice sheets), there have also been observable changes in animal behavior and plant cover in the region.