Arctic Sea Ice situation 6th worst on record:
This yearÂ’s maximum ice extent was the sixth lowest in the satellite record. The lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011.
The ten lowest maximums in the satellite record have occurred in the last ten years, 2004 to 2013.
On March 15, 2013 Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 15.13 million square kilometers (5.84 million square miles). The maximum extent was 733,000 square kilometers (283,000 square miles) below the 1979 to 2000 average of 15.86 million square kilometers (6.12 million square miles). The maximum occurred five days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 10. The date of the maximum has varied considerably over the years, with the earliest maximum in the satellite record occurring as early as February 24 in 1996 and as late as April 2 in 2010.
Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis | Sea ice data updated daily with one-day lag