A book about arctic ice and its human-induced degradation in the anthropocene, as well as the second- and third-order effects resulting from this process.

Prof. Wadhams introduces us to ice (specifically arctic ice) - "the magic crystal" as he calls it - and gives us an overview of important natural and meterological phenomena it influences, summarizing the last 10 years of climate change research. The book ends with a somewhat concerning review of the state of the planet at the time of writing and the challenges (or dangers) lying ahead.

Recommended reading for anyone who is looking for a more in-depth dive into the subject. ( )

A captivating guide to the past, present and
future of 'the amazing crystal' that plays a vital
role in regulating our planet
What is really happening in the Arctic regions of the world -
some of the most mysterious, beautiful, and essential places
on the planet? Peter Wadhams is Professor of Ocean Physics
at Cambridge University and the world's leading expert on
sea ice, having made forty-five journeys to polar regions
during his professional life. This book examines the natural
properties of sea ice, explaining how it is able to act as an air
and water cooling system for our oceans. It gives a brief
history of ice on our planet and explains what is happening to
it now. Using the latest research from the Arctic Ocean, he
shows that change is occurring much faster than previously
predicted. The implications for our world are immense.
Peter Wadhams is the UK's most experienced sea ice
scientist. He was Director of the Scott Polar Institute in
Cambridge from 1987 to 1992 and Professor of Ocean Physics
at Cambridge from 1992 to 2015. He has made more than 50
expeditions to both polar regions, working from ice camps,
icebreakers, aircraft, and, uniquely, Royal Navy submarines
(making six submerged voyages to the North Pole). His
research group in Cambridge has been the only UK group
with the capacity to carry out field work on sea ice. He has
also held visiting professorships at the National Institute of
Polar Research, Tokyo, the US Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, the University of Washington, Seattle and the
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla.
Peter Wadhams has been awarded the W.S. Bruce Prize of
the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1977), the UK Polar Medal
(1987) and the Italgas Prize for Environmental Sciences
(1990). He is an Associate Professor at the Laboratoire
d'Océanographie de Villefranche, and a Professor at the
Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona. He is also a
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Member of the
Finnish Academy.