"One factor that contributed to this fall’s extreme decline was that the ice was entering the melt season in an already weakened state. NSIDC Research Scientist Julienne Stroeve said, "The spring of 2007 started out with less ice than normal, as well as thinner ice. Thinner ice takes less energy to melt than thicker ice, so the stage was set for low levels of sea ice this summer.” (bron onder link).
Another factor that conspired to accelerate the ice loss this summer was an unusual atmospheric pattern, with persistent high atmospheric pressures over the central Arctic Ocean and lower pressures over Siberia. The scientists noted that skies were fairly clear under the high-pressure cell, promoting strong melt. At the same time, the pattern of winds pumped warm air into the region. While the warm winds fostered further melt, they also helped push ice away from the Siberian shore. NSIDC Research Scientist Walt Meier said, "While the decline of the ice started out fairly slowly in spring and early summer, it accelerated rapidly in July. By mid-August, we had already shattered all previous records for ice extent." "
Het moge zo zijn. Feit is dat sinds dat jaar volcontinu het meerjarenijs bleef verdwijnen en het totale volume, inderdaad ook naar steeds meer schattingen willen, is ook constant afgenomen.
Het is nogal een veeg teken dat dit jaar een duidelijke poging doet om 2007 te evenaren, en dat hiervoor
blijkbaar geen uitzonderlijke weersomstandigheden nodig zijn.
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