As the sea ice melts the reflection of sunlight is replaced by absorption by the open sea surface. This increases the temperatures in the area, resulting in activity in the thawing permafrost soils, accelerating the methane emissions and ultimately creating a positive feedback to the climate change.
Accelerated methane emissions when Arctic sea ice melts
"Changes in the Arctic Ocean can affect ecosystems located far away on land, " says Dr. Frans-Jan Parmentier at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, lead author of the newly pyublished international study.