"To Bounce or Not, This is the Question"Or a better question might be:
Will the current February 15th Maximum stand? Currently we are 217K Km
2 below that level. Based purely on statistics of previous years gains/losses in the last 16 days of March, it would seem likely that the current maximum is safe. 2010 is the only recent year to have a net gain in extent during this period and that gain was only 139K Km
2. However, it can be reasonably assumed that there will be some more upward bumps in the next few weeks. It remains to be seen whether these bumps are short lived or a steady succession of massive daily gains.
The chart below is a model that I have developed, using only the statistical data from 2003 to 2014, with the months from March 1st to September 15th broken into 15 or 16 day periods. I'm plotting 5 projected scenarios from the current date. The two extreme high/low projections use the record high and low losses for each period respectively. The remaining three projections use average loss plus 10%, average loss and average loss minus 10%. The tables below show the data I am using for the remainder of March and the entire month of April.
In no case am I trying to make any absolute predictions as to what will happen in the near future, only what kind of performance relative to previous years historical performance is required to keep 2015's Extent within the range of the previous record years of 2007, 2011 and 2012.
Neither am I using any current weather predictions, nor am I factoring in the current state if the ice in any of the Arctic regions. I'll let people far smarter and more experienced than I am do that.
At best, my model is a "GUESStimator" rather than a scientific predictor. However, I have learned a great deal in the process of developing this tool.
March 16-31 AVG Loss 206,478
MAX Loss 452,018 2014
MAX Gain 139,124 2010 Note: only year with net gain
April 1-15 AVG Loss 526,335
MAX Loss 1,080,605 2004
MIN Loss 278,712 2006
April 16-30 AVG Loss 631,407
MAX Loss 891,819 2012
MIN Loss 389,601 2007
