"According to Professor Ian Simmonds of the University of Melbourne, it is a combination of the melting sea ice and the atmospheric warming that is happening globally that is responsible for the high rate of warming in the Arctic."

"The temperatures in the arctic are rising four times faster than the global average, says a study done at the University of Melbourne's School of Earth Sciences.

"Loss of sea ice contributes to ground level warming while global warming intensifies atmospheric circulation and contributes to increased temperatures higher in the Arctic atmosphere," Professor Simmonds said."

G.W. Rastopsoff reports for Alaska Native News July 7, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"The Arctic Faces Yet Another Deep Meltdown This Summer" (Postmedia) [3]

"Scientists Trek to Collapsing Glaciers to Assess Antarctica's Meltdown and Sea-Level Rise" (Scientific American) [4]