September 23, 2019 -- The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, driven by melting sea ice and thawing of carbon-rich Arctic permafrost, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).In 2016, average Arctic surface temperatures were 3.5 degrees Celsius warmer than they were at the start of the 20th century, says NOAA.When sea ice vanishes, the colour of the Arctic changes. Deep blue waters of the Arctic Ocean absorb more solar energy than ice, which