Long-term trend still sharply downward

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — The Boulder-based National Snow and Ice Data Center is reporting that Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its minimum extent Sept. 13.

At about 1.97 million square miles, the minimum extent this year was not as extreme as last year’s record low, but still registered as the sixth-lowest on record.

The long-term trend is still a steady decline. Much of the Arctic may be completely free of of sea ice within the next few decades, said NSIDC director Mark Serreze.

“The pattern we’ve seen so far is an overall downward trend in summer ice extent, punctuated by ups and downs due to natural variability in weather patterns and ocean conditions,” Serreze said.