Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2030s, say scientists: You might be asking the question: so what? […] But Arctic sea ice is an important component of the climate system.
As it dramatically reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed by the ocean, removing this ice is predicted to further accelerate warming, through a process known as a positive feedback. This, in turn, will make the Greenland ice sheet melt faster, which is already a major contributor to sea level rise.