Arctic Sea Ice Cover Set To Be 2nd Lowest Ever Recorded, Data Suggests

"Satellite data shows ice was close to last year’s record low confirming a long-term downward trend towards ice-free Arctic summers".

"Arctic sea ice cover could be confirmed within days as the second lowest ever recorded, the latest data suggests.

According to the US national snow and ice data centre (NSIDC) the ice which forms and disperses annually has been close to its minimum extent for the year for several days and has begun to grow again as autumn sets in.

It was measured by satellite as 4.169m sq km on 12 September, a slight increase on the 4.139m sq km on 11 September. As the Arctic winter closes in, the ice cover will climb, reaching around 15m sq km by March."

John Vidal reports for the Guardian September 14, 2016.

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