evidence: One major concern is that of declining sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. During the winter months in each hemisphere, the polar regions gain sea ice as seawater freezes. That total amount has been shrinking steadily in recent decades. Sea ice is critical habitat for a variety of animals, including polar bears, seals, and penguins. In addition to having effects on wildlife, declining sea ice accelerates the rate of ocean warming. Sea ice reflects sunlight, providing a buffer to the effects of warmer temperatures. When sea ice is lost and the darker ocean surface is exposed, more warmth is absorbed by the sea, exacerbating the effects of climate change. This is known as the ice-albedo feedback. [...] - Scripps Scientists Return from Year-Long Polar Drift Experiment - Satellite Record Gives Unprecedented View of Antarctic Ice Sheet Melt Pattern Over 25 Years - First Results From NASA’s IceSAT-2 Mission Map 16 Years of Melting Ice Sheets - Listen Up: Scripps Scientists Use Underwater Microphones to Study Calving Arctic Glacier - New Research is the First to Relate Antarctic Sea Ice Melt to Weather Change in the Tropics - Researchers Find New Reason Why Arctic is Warming So Fast - Tethered for Months to Floating Sea Ice, Scripps Researchers Join Largest Ever International Arctic Expedition