Answer: Ice reflects heat from the sun; open water absorbs it.
The Arctic is a polar region of the earth. It is situated in the northern part of the earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas and parts of Alaska. Land in this region exhibit seasonal variations in the snow and ice cover.
The ice in the Arctic region reflects the sun's energy back to the atmosphere. But when the ice melts it results in open water source which absorbs the energy from the sun and reradiate this energy in the form of heat energy to the atmosphere. This makes the atmosphere in the Arctic region warm.
