Earth is finally free to rise after hundreds of thousands of years of ice suppression.

Record warm temperatures above Antarctica over the coming weeks are likely to bring above-average spring temperatures and below-average rainfall across large parts of New South Wales and southern Queensland.

While Arctic sea ice extent was tracking at record low levels in July and August, the pace of ice loss slowed considerably after the middle of August, despite above-average air temperatures over much of the Arctic Ocean.

Climate change has already had observable effects on the environment and far-reaching implications across the globe. Global warming is the increase of the Earth's average surface temperature, due to greenhouse gases that collect in the atmosphere, trapping the Sun's heat.

Faster action is needed to address Antarctica’s extreme weather, a new report warns.