Arctic Sea Ice Falls to Record Low for Winter

Arctic sea ice fell to its lowest winter extent in recorded history for a second straight year, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center and NASA.

Ice cover in the polar region averaged 14.52 million square kilometres (5.607 m sq miles) on March 24, the US science agencies said in a statement on Monday.

That’s a 0.2% decline on the previous lowest maximum in 2015, and a 7% fall on the 1981-2010 average of 15.64m sqkm.

Scientists cited abnormally warm temperatures from December to February which spurred melting. Temperatures rose between 2-6C across all regions.

“I’ve never seen such a warm, crazy winter in the Arctic,” said NSIDC director Mark Serreze. “The heat was relentless.”

http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/03/29/arctic-sea-ice-falls-to-record-low-for-winter/

Derrick Midwinter

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