Yes, snuff, it would be good to have more observational...

Yes, snuff, it would be good to have more observational research. Polar research is quite expensive, satellites and polar expeditions cost quite a bit.

I don't see a lot of contrary views in the science I've been reading. Maybe you are referring to reports in the popular press rather than reports from scientific organisations. Different news outlets often report the same event quite differently.

Or maybe you're thinking that a few years ago it was reported there was x ice volume and now the reports say there is only y ice volume - and you're puzzled because it seems that the accounts are saying there is less ice around now than there was in the past. Surely it couldn't be melting :)