Latest PIOMAS update (January)

[gerontocrat]

data from Wipneus / PIOMAS - a bit more

I attach the PIOMAS Volume December Monthly Average graph.
At 11,799 km3, the 2020 December average is 2nd lowest in the satellite record, some 362 km3 less than the linear trend value. The lowest December average was in 2016, at 11,206 km3.

I also attach a table and graph of the 365 day trailing average volume. At the current rate of decline of the trailing average, a new record low average volume is likely in mid-2022, 5 years after the current record low in late August 2017.

[oren]

Finally, in its last gasp 2020 managed to break away from 2016, though this did not suffice to cross above 2012.
The main region to thank is the Siberian sector. Laptev and Kara have both left record low territory at last. In the Pacific sector one could have a hoped for a higher year-end result, considering the high volume throughout the summer. The CAB is still very low but not as bad as 2016.
Looking at daily record lows, 2020 had a respectable showing, but is still behind 2012, 2019, and 2017. 2010 has finally lost its only daily record and was kicked of of the chart.
Hopefully, early 2021 will see better volume growth than early 2017 had.

My next update will require the annual hell of adding a new line to all charts and fixing colors.
The usual thanks to Wipneus, without whom the regional data would not be available anywhere.