Arctic sea ice 16th September 2012. Image: Arctic PortalThe summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is increasing again as winter looms but recorded its lowest ever extent this summer since satellite measurements began in 1979.  

 

On September 16, 2012 sea ice extent dropped to 3.41 million square kilometers, which is 760,000 square kilometers below the previous record minimum extent in the satellite record, occurring on September 18, 2007.

 

The National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that in response to the setting sun and falling temperatures, ice extent will now climb through autumn and winter. However, a shift in wind patterns or a casino virtuel en ligne period of late season melt could still push the ice extent lower.

 

The minimum extent was reached three days later than the 1979 to 2000 average minimum date of September 13.

 

This year's minimum extent is 18% below 2007 and 49% below the 1979 to 2000 average. Overall there was a loss of 11.83 million square kilometers (4.57 million square miles) of ice since the maximum extent occurred on March 20, 2012, which is the largest summer ice extent loss in the satellite record, more than one million square kilometers greater than in any previous year.