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The time bomb at the top of the world

Each September, the extent of Arctic sea ice reaches its lowest level before the lengthening darkness and falling temperatures cause it to begin to expand again.

This year, measurements from the National Snow and Ice Data Center show that there is less ice in the middle of the Arctic than ever before and winter sea ice in the Arctic’s Bering Sea hit its lowest level in 5,500 years in 2018 and 2019.