According to recent NASA reports, the volume Arctic sea ice has been steadily decreasing for two years in a row.
As ice melts, the liquid water collects in depressions on the surface and deepens them, forming these melt ponds in the Arctic.
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© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov
The bridge of the Yamal nuclear-powered icebreaker during the Kara-Winter 2015 scientific expedition aimed at studying the ice floe in Russia's Arctic reaches.
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© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov
Participants of the Kara-Winter 2015 scientific expedition.
A DHC-3 Otter aircraft surveys of mountain glaciers in Alaska as part of NASA's Operation IceBridge.
Arctic sea ice was at a record low wintertime maximum extent for the second straight year.
Tourists look out at the Nordenskjoldbreen glacier in the Spitbergen province of the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. July 19, 2015.
An ice floe slides down the starboard side of the Coast Guard cutter Healy navigating the Arctic Ocean. August 19, 2009.
Saunders Island and Wolstenholme Fjord with Kap Atholl in the background.
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© Photo : NOAA Photo Library
Scientist testing the waters, with USCG Icebreaker HEALY seen in the background. Arctic Ocean, Canada Basin. July 24, 2005.
