Arctic sea ice likely at minimum extent

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Arctic sea ice likely reached its minimum for the year on Sept 18. That minimum, 1.6 million square miles, is the second lowest in the 41-year satellite record, the National Snow and Ice Data Center said in a preliminary estimate released Sept. 23.

NSIDC said that minimum was tied for second lowest in the satellite record with 2007 and 2016, “reinforcing the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent.”

The seasonal increase in sea ice will now begin, lasting through the fall and winter, the agency said, noting that the Sept. 23 statement is preliminary, with changing winds or late-season melt having the potential to further reduce the Arctic ice extent, something which happened in both 2005 and 2010.

The minimum extent reached Sept. 18 was four days later than a median minimum date of Sept. 14 from 1981 to 2010.

This year’s minimum extent was behind only 2012, with all 13 lowest extents in the satellite era occurring in the last 13 years.

The 1.6 million square mile minimum this year was 293,000 square miles above the recent record set in 2012 and 811,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 average minimum extent.

This year’s maximum extent occurred March 13 and tied for the seventh lowest on record at 5.71 million square miles, a maximum extent tied with 2007, and 332,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 average maximum extent of 6.04 million square miles.

The lowest maximum extent ever observed was 5.56 million square miles in 2017.

Prior to this year, the four lowest maximum extents occurred between 2015 and 2018.

- KRISTEN NELSON