Will the polar bear go the way of the dinosaur? Extinction is forever.
Albedo is the fraction of solar energy (shortwave radiation) reflected from the Earth back into space. It is a measure of the reflectivity of the earth's surface. Ice, especially with snow on top of it, has a high albedo: most sunlight hitting the surface bounces back towards space.
Less ice, lower albedo; increased absorption of solar energy into the atmosphere. Over the last several decades, the volume of Arctic Sea ice has reduced by something like 80%.
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