A four year study conducted by 250 scientists from eight different nations confirmed that global warming is having an adverse impact on the Arctic more than any other part of the world.

'Earth's climate is changing, with the global temperature now rising at a rate unprecedented in the experience of modern human society,' says the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report. 'These climate changes are being experienced particularly intensely in the Arctic.'

There were ten major findings of the study, many of them quite serious such as:

--Winters in the Arctic have been shorter and warmer and will continue to do so for the next few centuries as a result of global warming.

--The habitat for marine animals will shrink and some species such as the polar bear may face extinction in the next hundred years as a result of climate changes.

--Erosion in coastal communities will be a bigger issue than ever due to melting glaciers and permafrost.

The findings included a reduction in snow cover in the Arctic of 10 percent over the past 30 years with an additional 10-20 percent reduction expected.

The cause of the problem is greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and the burning of fossil fuels. The United States, the world's biggest consumer of fossil fuels, has refused to endorse the Kyoto Protocalls which were designed to reduce greenhouse gas emitions. The Bush Administration continues to oppose signing the protocalls, saying the restrictions would be too damaging to American businesses.

Officials around the world will receive the complete official report within the next month. It is unsure what reaction the world's governments will have to these alarming findings or if they will take any action as a result.