The National Snow and Ice Data Center (US polar research institute) recently confirmed that although the 2008 Arctic sea ice melt season was the second lowest on record in terms of minimum annual sea ice extent (2007 is the current record holder), it did set a record for total ice loss over a single melt season — 10.58 million square kilometers, approximately 70,000 square kilometers greater than 2007. 

The record minimum annual sea ice extent of 2007 could lend support to the total ice loss observed in 2008 as the growth cycle between the two seasons in question produced an unprecedented amount of first-year sea ice.   First year sea ice is prone to melt during the summer months and now dominates the Arctic — at more than 70% of the total sea ice coverage.

Of further note, researchers from the National Snow and Ice Data Center observed above-average surface temperatures over most of the Arctic Ocean during October, 2008 — a trend detected over the past five years.  Researchers attribute a rise in autumn air temperatures to the transfer of warm ocean water heat to the atmosphere as Arctic sea ice begins to grow as sunlight diminishes and darkness increases.  Ocean water needs to expel its heat in order to produce sea ice, which unlike fresh water ice freezes at approximately – 1.8 degrees Celsius.  Larger expanses of open ocean water can be attributed to these occurrences and could very well intensify over the coming years.

For further information of the National Snow and Ice Data Center findings, please visit the following link:

Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis – National Snow and Ice Data Center