The Peripheral Seas of the Arctic Ocean Basin are: Beaufort, Chukchi, East Siberian Sea, Laptev Sea.
Using anomalies, which are the difference from the long term mean (here I use 1981 to 2010 to line up with NCEP/NCAR baseline period, as usual), here is the current state of extent, area and compactness in the Peripheral Seas. Data to 5 August.
Extent Anomaly.
Since 23 July the strong falls at greater than average rate (falling anomalies) have ceased giving way to a more average loss (level anomalies).
Area Anomaly.
Since 13 July the area losses have been about average (roughly level anomalies), a sharp contrast to the preceding strongly above average losses. This pattern is similar to 2007, 2011 and 2012, the relaxation of area anomaly loss after mid July is caused by the long term mean loss being high in late July, keeping up even with record years.
Compactness Anomaly.
Having followed 2012 from 19 June to 22 July, compactness now shows signs of levelling and allowing the 2012 compactness to fall away.
The levelling in extent, area, and compactness, leads up to early August (now) where in 2012 extent crashed following the Great Arctic Cyclone of 2012.