The sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has decreased to the second lowest level recorded ever since satellite measurements were first taken in 1979. The absolute record was reached last year, with 5.69 million square kilometers of sea ice.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado released its latest ice report this week: Arctic sea ice extent has decreased 795,000 square miles since the beginning of the month and that the extent is now 760,000 square miles below the 1979-2000 average.

NASA ice scientist Jay Zwally told the Associated Press that in “five to less than 10 years" the Arctic could remain without ice completely in the summer. "It also means that climate warming is also coming larger and faster than the models are predicting and nobody's really taken into account that change yet," he said.

It is important to be aware of the fact that without the white ice that reflects sunlight back into space, the Earth will absorb more heat into the ocean. The figures reflect recent melt in the Chukchi Sea off the Alaskan coast and the East Siberian Seas off the coast of eastern Russia, the report said.

The Chukchi Sea is home to one of two populations of Alaska polar bears. Nine polar bears were spotted swimming 15 to 65 miles off the Alaska shore, some of which were heading north apparently trying to reach the polar ice edge, which was 400 miles away. Despite their being brilliant swimmers they can’t really swim more than 100 miles at a time. The sea ice is essential for their orientation and survival.

Bill Hare, Greenpeace Climate Policy Director also warned about methane "burps" in the Arctic as well. These latest reports from a Russian research vessel in the Arctic sea are very concerned about the danger of warming releasing methane stored in Arctic permafrost and undersea gas hydrates.