Summertime Arctic sea ice is indeed vanishing faster than anyone previously predicted, as this graph makes clear. The National Snow and Ice Data Center at UC Boulder concurs, and there is no disputing that 2007 was a record year for Arctic sea ice melt. That doesn’t bode well for future temperature rises, since the ice acts as a giant sun reflector, and helps cool the oceans.

But hey, looking at the bright side, at least the fabled Northwest passage is now open in summertime!