During the current melting season, sea ice coverage on the Arctic Ocean reached its all-time recorded low. This year's low measured even less than the previous record, 2007.
Although many still energetically debate the causes, they cannot ignore the Arctic warmup of the past 10 or so years.
The lower ice coverage will affect marine life (including polar bears - officially a marine mammal) and will further contribute to Arctic warming.
Scientists do not know the cause(s) nor do they know what future changes are in store.
Below is a phenomenal NOAA animation of satellite still images illustrating this year's loss of ice.
