Times: The Arctic ice cap has been shrinking for the last three decades but recently that shrinkage has accelerated sharply. In 2007 the area covered by summer ice shrank to its smallest extent ever. The extent of sea ice cover in September 2008 was the second lowest ever recorded. The latest Met Office Hadley Centre results strengthen the evidence that human activity is a significant factor in the shrinkage of the Arctic summer ice cap and suggests that this will lead to ice-free summers …