Current measurements suggest that the Arctic is warming faster than other parts of Earth. The year 2012 was the ninth warmest year on record (since measurements began in 1880). Much of Earth was warmer in 2012 than average temperatures from 1951 to 1980. The Arctic was notably warmer in 2012.
SOURCE: NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=80167