Report: 2016 was Arctic’s warmest year on record, effects are cascading down into ecosystem

Ice pack near Svalbard (Creative commons photo by Luc Jamet)
2016 was not a good year for the Arctic with the continued warming of the air and sea water, and diminishing sea ice.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released its Arctic Report Card for 2016.
It was the warmest year on record for the Arctic where the average air temperature is increasing at twice the rate as the global average.
This year was 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than 1900. Also, water temperature