Report: 2009 Arctic sea ice cover 3rd lowest on record
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National Snow and Ice Data Center graph shows the downward trend in Arctic sea ice cover since 1979.
A new report from The National Snow and Ice Data Center indicates Arctic sea ice cover was the third lowest on record in September since satellite measurements have been taken starting in 1979. September is an important month for measuring ice in the Arctic Ocean because it reaches minimum coverage after the summer melt.
There are several notable data points in this month's data.
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-The average Arctic ice cover in September was 2.07 million square miles, the 3rd lowest on record.
-Ice cover increased this year compared to the two lowest years in 2007 and 2008, but was still 649,000 square miles below the 1979-2009 September average.
-Only 19 percent of the ice cover was over 2 years old, the least in the satellite record and far below the 1981-2000 average of 52 percent.
The graphic below compares the last 3 years to the 1979-2009 average. Focus on the green areas and how much ice is over 2 years old. This is important because older ice is harder to melt than ice less than 2 years old.
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The extent of ice coverage in the Arctic was at the lowest point in 2007. There has been some recovery since then, but ice cover is still well below the long term average.
2010 will be a critical year for assessing changes in Arctic sea ice. Will ice coverage increase next September or will it shrink and continue to stay well below the long term average?
Stay tuned.
PH
