There have been many online articles predicting Arctic Sea Ice doom in the last week.

My favorite quote is: “Scientists warn that the area covered by this winter’s Arctic sea ice could turn out to be the lowest ever measured.”

Total nonsense. In fact, as of day 83 Arctic Sea Ice extent is higher than it was in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

The record that may be set (maybe not since there is still a week or so to go before day 90 which is the latest maximum) is lowest maximum.

The record may be broken by 20,000 sq km. Out of 14,000,000 sq km. 0.14%

 

And MASIE (a different method) has 2016’s maximum 400,000 sq km HIGHER than 2006. (MASIE only goes back to 2006)

Year	Min	Max	day of Max	day of Min
2012	3368882.08	15821891.32	82	264
2008	4223400.12	15661926.25	72	265
2014	5066134.38	15523208.18	73	262
2013	4677324.53	15505010.03	73	260
2010	4716943.6	15,396,877.99	77	266
2009	4871392.35	15,326,130.68	62	254
2011	4302977.96	15,110,021.96	67	257
2016	13095244.88	15,077,599.37	61
2015	4442258.23	14,910,198.98	62	260
2007	3986945.93	14,907,125.15	73	261
2006	5640540.95	14,663,037.37	69	267

 

NSIDC/NOAA data graph.

The latest South / North