September 16, 2015

expert reaction to NSIDC announcement on 2015 Arctic sea ice low

The National Snow and Ice Data Center has given a preliminary announcement of Arctic sea ice levels, saying that it reinforces “the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent”.

Dr Colin Summerhayes, Emeritus Associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute, said:

“The latest Arctic data from the NSIDC confirm that 2015 has the 4th lowest area amount of sea ice. It neatly shows that the downward trend in sea ice coverage is continuing, and not reversing as some supposed from the slight increases after 2012.

“There will always be some years when the amount of sea ice is above the downward trend line and some years when it is below the line. But regardless of these wiggles the trend line continues to fall, as forecast. That’s the big picture.”

* http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

Declared interests

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