As of day 329 of 2013, the number of daily records and 2nd place finishes puts 2013 well out in front, but 2008 (typo corrected) still holds the most daily records.

I include 2nd place finishes to show you how remarkable 2013 has been. For 70% of the year, sea extent in the Antarctic has been a daily record or a close 2nd. And that is unusual as you see by the relatively paltry number of 2nd place days in 2008 and 2010. And of couse many of those 2nd place spots for 2010 were daily records before 2013 came along.

Year	First	Second	Top2
2013	105	125	230
2008	123	49	172
2010	91	42	133
2009	8	33	41
2012	8	22	30
2006	1	26	27
2007	21	1	22
1979	2	12	14
2000	4	3	7
2004	3	4	7

Of course, there were a lot more records for 2008 and 2010 before January 1st.

This table is the number of 1st and 2nd place finishes at the end of 2012:

Year	First	Second	Top2
2008	133	50	183
2010	129	27	156
2009	8	51	59
2006	27	28	55
2012	27	13	40
2005	3	21	24
2007	21	2	23
1979	2	20	22
2000	6	15	21
1998	4	16	20
2004	5	4	9
1980	1	3	4