In November 2016, Arctic temperatures that would normally be around -25°C (-13°F) were hovering near 0°C (32°F). Sea ice coverage was at its lowest level ever recorded for that time of year, down about 30 percent from 25 years earlier.
The same month, the Arctic Resilience Report, written by 11 research institutions, warned that melting ice could trigger tipping points. Ice and snow reflect sunlight back into space. When they disappear, the darker surface absorbs that energy as heat, which drives more melting and more warming.
via Arctic ice melt poses a risk of uncontrollable climate change, scientists say | The World