The sea ice minimum - the moment when Arctic sea ice extent is at its lowest each September, has this year broken the previous 2007 record, melting to below 3.5 million square kilometers. Half of the ice has been lost in the last 30 years.

The Arctic Sunrise is in the ice to bear witness to the impact of fossil fuel induced global warming. On board are also scientists from NSIDC (US National Snow and Ice Data Centre) and Cambridge University, who are conducting research on the ice.