CO2 Now

Arctic sea ice reached its seasonal minimum on September 14, 2008.  The September 2008 average was the second lowest since the start of satellite measurements in 1979. The record low for September arctic sea ice extent was last year in 2007. The 2008 minimum was 34% less than the long term average from 1979 to 2000.

In late 2007, US scientists predicted the dissappearance of Arctic Sea ice in five to six years. The prediction was produced with climate modelling and sea ice data from 1979 to 2004. The three lowest minimums on record occured in 2007, 2008, and 2005 respectively. 

Links are provided to the National Snow and Ice Data Cente (NSIDC) and related media articles.

Updates & Analysis

Applied Physics Laboratory  |  Arctice Sea Ice Volume Anomaly - PIOMAS Data

NSDIC  |  Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis  

NOAA  |  Arctic Report Card: Unprecedented Warming   |   October 2010

AGU  Abstract   |  M. Serreze et al:  Arctic Sea Ice in 2008: Standing on the Threshold  | Fall 2008 

Media

Climate Progress  |  WMO confirms Arctic ice volume as lowest ever  |  December 2008

The Independent  |  Arctic melt passes the point of no return  |  December 2008

Climate Progress  |  NSDIC: Arctic melt passes the point of no return  | December 2008

Globe and Mail  |  Scientists predict seasonal ice-free Arctic by 2015  |  December 2008

NSDIC | Arctic Sea Ice Down to Second Lowest Extent; Likely Record Low Volume  |  October 2008

Links.org | Global Warming: No More Business as Usual: This is an Emergency!  | October 2008

BBC  |  Arctic Summers Ice Free by 2013  |  December 2007

The Star  |  Arctic thawing faster than forecast  |  May 2007

Anarctica (Land Ice)

Science Daily  |  Antarctica Warming Faster Than Previously Thought  |  January 2009