How does ice reduce average global temperature of the planet?

Answer 1

I don’t think ice so much reduces global temperature as that rising temperatures melt the ice. There is some difference in how glaciers and sea ice reflect solar energy and other surfaces may absorb it, but we can’t make ice to bring global warming down. Another problem I heard reported the other day is that “permafrost,” ground and especially tundra rich in organic material that has remained frozen very deep for a long time is now thawing at a high rate, releasing CO2 and methane and actually accelerating global warming.