Informant38

Greenland's unusual summer slush was part of a record-breaking year of northern polar ice loss, reported by Dr Steffen and other scientists this weekend at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference in San Francisco.

According to scientists, surface melt on Greenland was the highest in recorded history - and extended to elevations previously untouched by melt - while the amount of Arctic sea ice also reached a record low.
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The loss of Arctic sea ice is "big news", according to University of Alaska, Fairbanks, researcher Larry Hinzman.

"Polar sea ice has an important function in moderating the global energy balance," he said. He explained that sea ice has albedo of 0.8. That is, it reflects 80% of the solar radiation. When the sea ice melts you have water, which has an albedo of 0.2.

"The sea ice goes from absorbing 20% of solar radiation to absorbing 80%," said Dr Hinzman. This creates positive feedback for further warming.

In total, the arctic warming is an unprecedented trend, according to Dr Hinzman.

"We're experiencing the most rapid increase in temperature in recorded history," he said.