Arctic's Temperature Continues To Run Hot, Latest 'Report Card' Shows

"The Arctic is a huge, icy cap on the planet that acts like a global air conditioner. But the air conditioner is breaking down, according to scientists who issued a grim "report card" on the Arctic today."

"They say the North Pole continues to warm at an alarming pace — twice the rate as the rest of the planet, on average. This year was the Arctic's second-warmest in at least 1,500 years, and possibly longer. The warmest year ever was 2016."

"Researchers say there was less winter ice in the Arctic Ocean than ever observed. And ocean water in parts of the polar Barents and Chukchi seas was a whopping 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than just a few decades ago."

"It's a trend that has some calling the state of the Arctic a "new normal." Arctic scientist Jeremy Mathis says that term doesn't work for him."