Arctic sea ice reflects the sun's heat allowing Earth to stay cooler and making it critical in regulating Earth's climate.
The summer measurement for Arctic ice extent, the area the sea ice covers, is at the second lowest level since 1979, when scientists began using satellites to monitor changes in ice extent. The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo. reports that the 1.67 million square miles measured in September is 36 percent lower than the average minimum of 2.59 million square miles. This number is preliminary and may be even lower when the official numbers are published in October.
Extent fluctuates with the seasons; the maximum extent is in February and March and a minimum is reached in August or September. The summer minimum allows scientists to monitor man-made global warming. The lowest year on record is 2007, which had weather conditions which favored ice loss. This year had typical weather conditions but continued warmth in the Arctic, which caused the low ice extent and was indicative of a long-term Arctic climate change.
Data from the University of Washington shows that Arctic ice volume, or the total sea ice thickness, is at an all-time low for the second year in a row. The remaining ice is thinner, more dispersed and therefore less robust than sea ice from past years.
Scientists using computer models predict that Arctic summers could be free of sea ice as early as 2015.
-compiled by Amanda Gellett
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