Arctic ice extent fell 61% faster than average first half of July
Arctic ice cover declined at a rate of 132,000 km² per day during the first two weeks of July, which was 61% faster than the average, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
- The average rate of decline calculated over the period 1981 to 2010 is 82,000 km²/day.
- The fastest ice loss was observed in the Kara sea, where temperatures were up to 5ºC above average, and East Greenland sea, followed by the Laptev Sea.
- Sea ice retreated slowest on the Pacific side, especially in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
- Temperatures over Alaska, Siberia and the Canadian Arctic were up to 5ºC below average.
The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of July 19, 2013, along with daily ice extent data for 2012, the record low year. 2013 is shown in blue, and 2012 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Sea Ice Index data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Arctic sea ice extent for July 19. The orange line shows the 1981 to 2010 median extent for that month. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Additional Data
- Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent at 15.13 million km²on March 10, five days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 10.
- The 2013 maximum ice extent was 733,000 km² below the 1979 to 2000, and became the 6th lowest in the satellite record, said NSIDC.
- The lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011; ten lowest maximums have occurred in the last ten years (2004 – 2013).
Related Links
- ‘Surreal’ Melt Season Begins in Arctic Sea March 26, 2013
- Antarctic Flood Forms ‘Ice Crater’ July 2, 2013
- Arctic Sea Ice Extent Could Fall to 3M Km² Sept. 3, 2012
Original caption: 
Fire Earth 