CBC News reports today that climatologists studying satellite weather maps are amazed and alarmed by how quickly spring is coming to the Arctic this year. Record warm temperatures have significantly reduced ice cover in Canada’s Arctic waters and snow cover on land.

Climatologists, biologists and people living in the area fear the shifting ice patterns are a sign of even deeper changes that will disrupt age-old cycles of plant and animal life, and even global weather patterns. And researchers will be watching ice cover data carefully this summer, and many are already predicting the shrinkage in September will largely surpass last year’s record high.

Guess we may have more pizzlys on the way…