Arctic sea-ice reached its peak this year at an early hour, reaching its lowest point on February th. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Thursday’s peak signals the start of sea ice melt season. The National Snow and Ice Data Center informed Thursday that the peak in ice had reached new record levels. This means that the amount of sea ice has likely melted faster than usual. Over the last ten years, sea ice has decreased by approximately 5% per year. However, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in the USA believes that melting has begun. The Center says it will post a detailed analysis of the 2014-15 winter sea conditions early in April. February 25 Arctic sea ice extent was 14. 54 million sq km (5. 61 million sq m). The orange line represents the 1981 and 2010 median area for this day. The geographic North Pole is indicated by the black cross. Data from the Sea Ice Index. Image: NSIDC. The most likely peak for this year was 5. 61m square miles (14. 54 millions of square kilometers This winter, ice conditions were lower than average across the Arctic with the exception of Labrador Sea and Davis Strait. This year’s peak is 425,000 square miles (1. 10 million square kilometers) less than the 1981 to 2010 average of 6. 03 million square miles (15. 64 millions of square kilometers This is also significantly lower than the 2011. previous highest maximum. 2015’s peak on February 25th occurred 15 days earlier than the 1981 to 2010 average (March 12). Over the past three decades, the date at which the peak occurred has varied from February 24th to April 2010.. According to the NSIDC, “Because there is variability in ice extent at the time of year, it can take some time to pinpoint the date of maximum extent. This year was no exception.” The NSIDC stated that the peak occurred on February 25th. However, this trend has since flattened. The Bering Sea’s recent ice growth partially offsets the ongoing ice retreat from the Kara and Barents seas. The March 18 Arctic sea-ice extent and daily data from the previous four years are shown. 2014 from 2015, is in blue; 2013 and 2014 are in green; 2012, 2013 is in orange; 2011, 2012_ in brown. 2010, 2011, is in purple. In dark gray, the 1981 to 2010 mean is. Gray area surrounding the average line indicates the standard deviation range. Sea Ice Index data. Image: NSIDC. Although there are periods of growth, it now seems unlikely that enough growth will occur to exceed the February 25,” NSIDC stated. Weather patterns contributing to record low maximum During the 2014-15 winter season, sea ice extend grew by 3. 83 millions of square miles (9. 91 millions of square kilometers. This was significantly less ice growth than in 2013-14, which registered record winter growth. Recent weather patterns partly explain the record-low maximum. NSIDC stated that February was marked by unusual jet stream configurations, which led to warmer conditions on the Pacific side of Arctic. This resulted in low sea ice in Bering Sea, Okhotsk, and Sea of Okhotsk. A strong Icelandic low caused unusually strong surface winds in the Kara and Barents Seas. During the first fourteen days of March, temperatures at approximately 3,000 feet altitude in the Arctic were several degrees Celsius above average, reaching 8degC to 10degC (14degF to 18degF) above average in the Barents Sea between Franz Josef Land and Svalbard. The 7-day forecasts for the Eastern Arctic show temperatures that are warmer than average, but it is possible to see some new ice form in the Bering Sea. “Thus while it appears that the maximum occurred in February 25, late-season ice growth might still occur,” NSIDC stated. NASA Video Arctic Sea Ice at Record Low
