Update: Arctic Sea Ice Trends

The National Snow and Ice Data Center is reporting that the Arctic Ocean is covered with young sea ice. The problem is that young ice is less thick than ice older than 2 years and thus more prone to melting. Recent years have seen the lowest recorded extent in Arctic sea ice.

 The Center reports:

First-year ice in particular is thinner and more prone to melting away than thicker, older, multi-year ice. This year, ice older than two years accounted for less than 10% of the ice cover at the end of February. From 1981 through 2000, such older ice made up an average of 30% of the total sea ice cover at this time of the year.

Instead of reflecting sunlight back into space and cooling the planet, open water absorbs more heat. This additional heat contributes to keeping the Arctic warmer than usual. Model simulations suggest that Arctic ocean warming can extend 900 miles inland where it can melt permafrost and provoke the release methane. Methane is a much more powerful warming gas. It will be interesting to see what happens to Arctic sea ice this summer. 

In response to a H&R reader comment I include below the March sea ice extent trend below:

Of course, astute H&R commenters could have RTFA to which I linked to find this out. 😉