Answer: positive feedback loop
Step-by-step explanation:
A positive feedback loop is a process in which an initial change in a system leads to a further change in the same direction, amplifying the initial change. In this case, an increase in temperature causes ice to melt which leads to an increase in temperature because the liquid water is less reflective than the ice, which means that the water absorbs more heat from the sun leading to further increase in temperature. This process amplifies the initial increase in temperature, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.
This is a positive feedback loop because it amplifies the initial warming rather than dampening it. This can lead to runaway warming and melting of ice, which can have severe impacts on the global climate and sea level rise.
This positive feedback loop is known as the ice-albedo feedback, where the albedo is the measure of the reflectivity of a surface. The ice has a high albedo (reflective) while the water has a low albedo (non-reflective), meaning that more heat is absorbed by the water than the ice, leading to a temperature increase.