One question, if the Antarctic (the larger extent) is well within the single standard deviation, and the Arctic (smaller extent) is just one smidge outside the single standard deviation, how is the combined extent well outside the single standard deviation? Is my definition of the well know technical term “smidge” off?
sunshine hours 
Reblogged this on Climate Collections.
Antarctic ice is just below the 1981-2010 average and growing faster than the average growth. The present situation looks similar to 2012.
One question, if the Antarctic (the larger extent) is well within the single standard deviation, and the Arctic (smaller extent) is just one smidge outside the single standard deviation, how is the combined extent well outside the single standard deviation? Is my definition of the well know technical term “smidge” off?
Antarctic flucutates by as much as 2 million sq km from one year to the next on day 192 (but only since about 2010).
But that is only 10% or so (depending on day of year). Before 2010 it only fluctuated by 1,000,000 or less.
But that 2,000,000 is sometimes well above the mean and someimes well below.