arctic sea ice

New satellite observations show that sea ice in the Arctic is melting faster while air temperatures in the region are rising sharply, scientists say.

The nine regions of the world that face being tipped into massive, abrupt and potentially irreversible changes over the next century because of manmade global warming

Last summer's record melting of Arctic sea ice is now causing weird things to happen with this winter's ice pack in northern Canada. There's also a terrific satellite animation of the ice breakup at: http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/content_contenu/SIE/Beaufort/ANIM-BE2007.gif

The giant Ayles Ice Island drifting off Canada's northern shores has broken in two - far earlier than expected. In a season of record summer melting in the region, the two chunks have moved rapidly through the water - one of them covering 98km (61 miles) in a week. Their progress has been tracked amid fears they could edge west towards oil and gas installations off Alaska.

Scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder’s National Snow and Ice Data Center said today that the extent of Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its minimum for 2007 on September 16, shattering all previous lows since satellite recordkeeping began nearly 30 years ago.

There is a 92% chance that Arctic sea ice will have melted to a record low, partially due to global warming, according to researchers at the University of Colorado.