Arctic sea ice melted at the fastest rate ever observed last month, suggesting ice cover might reach record lows this year.
The US National Snow and Ice Data Center says the rapid melting was driven by warm winds from Asia and high pressure over the Arctic circle.
Associate Professor James Renwick from Victoria University, formerly NIWA's principal climate scientist, says this year's ice cover looks as if it will be even lower than a record melt in 2007.
He told Morning Report that can affect weather around the globe.
Listen to James Renwick