The Arctic average temperature has  increased by about 3˚ C - much more than the rest of the planet. This phenomenon is known as  'Arctic Temperature Amplification' and is thought to be caused by various reinforcing feedback loops. This CLD illustrate some of the more important ones.  The most important ones (R1 and R2) are affecting the amount of sunlight that is reflected back into space by ice and snow.  As ice and snow melt, more dark ocean and land surface is exposed absorbing the light, which then warms up the sea and land. This increased heat then warms up the air above it.  The loop (R3) illustrates that a grater area of exposed sea can be stirred up by winds causing waves which break up sea ice. This  exposes more water surface contributing further to the warming of the ocean.  As the atmosphere in the Arctic warms (R4), more water evaporates and is absorbed by it. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, and  its presence in the atmosphere further causes  Arctic temperatures to rise.

The Arctic average temperature has  increased by about 3˚ C - much more than the rest of the planet. This phenomenon is known as  'Arctic Temperature Amplification' and is thought to be caused by various reinforcing feedback loops. This CLD illustrate some of the more important ones.  The most important ones (R1 and R2) are affecting the amount of sunlight that is reflected back into space by ice and snow.  As ice and snow melt, more dark ocean and land surface is exposed absorbing the light, which then warms up the sea and land. This increased heat then warms up the air above it.  The loop (R3) illustrates that a grater area of exposed sea can be stirred up by winds causing waves which break up sea ice. This  exposes more water surface contributing further to the warming of the ocean.  As the atmosphere in the Arctic warms (R4), more water evaporates and is absorbed by it. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, and  its presence in the atmosphere further causes  Arctic temperatures to rise.