August Arctic sea ice melt at record pace
September 8th, 2008 by Jim JustNSIDC reports that Arctic ice melted at a record rate in August, offering the possibility that this year’s ice melt could break last year’s record:
“Following a record rate of ice loss through the month of August, Arctic sea ice extent already stands as the second-lowest on record, further reinforcing conclusions that the Arctic sea ice cover is in a long-term state of decline. With approximately two weeks left in the melt season, the possibility of setting a new record annual minimum in September remains open.”
In a typical year, the daily rate of ice loss starts to slow in August as the Arctic begins to cool. By contrast, in August 2008, the daily decline rate remained steadily downward and strong. This August’s rapid ice loss reflects a thin sea ice cover that needed very little additional energy to melt out.
Ice extent is now within 370,000 square kilometers (140,000 square miles) of last year’s value on the same date and is 2.08 million square kilometers (800,000 square miles) below the 1979 to 2000 average.