These shocking satellite images from the European Space Agency show how the Arctic summer ice pack has changed in just one year. The left image was taken in August 2005 - the right in August 2006. See the difference?

In both images, pink represents pack ice and the colour blue open water. Intermediate colours orange, yellow, and green indicate lower ice concentrations of 70%, 50% and 30%, respectively. In the 2006 image, the low concentration ice pack can seen by the high concentration of yellow, orange and green colours.

By the way - the UK and Ireland haven't somehow drifted north - the ESA folks just added the outlines to give a sense of scale.

More info here