John Vidal, The Guardian In the past four years, air temperatures have increased, sea ice has declined, surface waters in the Arctic Ocean have warmed and permafrost is thawing. Extensive climate change is now affecting every form of life in the Arctic, according to a new assessment by international scientists. In the past four years, air temperatures have increased, sea ice has declined, surface waters in the Arctic Ocean have warmed and permafrost is thawing. Scientists from Norway, Canada, Russia and the US contributed to the Arctic monitoring and assessment programme (Amap) study, which says new factors such as