2018 sea ice area and extent data

[gerontocrat]

NSIDC Total Area as at 24 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,598,859  km2
This is 143 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss 33 K ,

Central Seas loss         29 k,
Peripheral Seas loss       0 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas gain             4 k all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 3 k, area 64 k, now above 2010's average.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea gain 1 k, area 29 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea loss 1 k, area 52k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area loss 0 k, area is now 24 k, < 5% of 1980's average maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 4 k, area 28 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea gain 2 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago loss 0 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 18 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea loss 6 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 4 k, Area now 23 k
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of 33 k is above average by about 4k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 45k, above average for the day. But daily extent lost 88 k, after a gain of 54k the day before. End of season wobbles. About 3 weeks or less to go.

It is all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA have stalled. Is it now just about the ESS and the Central Arctic Sea? The melting season ain't over yet, there was a chorus of fat ladies waiting in the wings for a chance to sing, but I think two just left and may not be coming back.....

[Ned W]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,904,571 km2（August 24, 2018）

[...snip...]

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is  4.30 million km2.

JAXA has been staying persistently within the range of 4.2 to 4.3 million km2 for some time now. 

The "story" of this season seems to be that it's been basically a typical 2010s year, except that Hudson and Baffin Bays took longer than usual to melt out -- so in June and July we had first anomalously slow extent loss, then anomalously fast.  But then we got back on the usual track and now it's just marching along as usual.

Of course, having posted this, tomorrow will probably see either a century break or a freak uptick in extent...

[Dharma Rupa]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,904,571 km2（August 24, 2018）

[...snip...]

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is  4.30 million km2.

JAXA has been staying persistently within the range of 4.2 to 4.3 million km2 for some time now. 

The "story" of this season seems to be that it's been basically a typical 2010s year, except that Hudson and Baffin Bays took longer than usual to melt out -- so in June and July we had first anomalously slow extent loss, then anomalously fast.  But then we got back on the usual track and now it's just marching along as usual.

Of course, having posted this, tomorrow will probably see either a century break or a freak uptick in extent...

That would be a fine analysis if you ignored the Battle of the Bulge on the Atlantic Front.

[bluesky]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,904,571 km2（August 24, 2018）

[...snip...]

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is  4.30 million km2.

JAXA has been staying persistently within the range of 4.2 to 4.3 million km2 for some time now. 

The "story" of this season seems to be that it's been basically a typical 2010s year, except that Hudson and Baffin Bays took longer than usual to melt out -- so in June and July we had first anomalously slow extent loss, then anomalously fast.  But then we got back on the usual track and now it's just marching along as usual.

Of course, having posted this, tomorrow will probably see either a century break or a freak uptick in extent...

That would be a fine analysis if you ignored the Battle of the Bulge on the Atlantic Front.

Would the analysis be slightly different in case we would have a look at the total extent, area, and volume melt from the 2018 maximum to the expected minimum early September, considering that the maximum was really low (at least for extent and area). On the other hand, if there has been less transpolar drift or less area, extent , volume melting through transport through the Fram Strait, maybe the analysis could go the opposite way?

[Ned W]

Sorry, I shouldn't have started this in this thread, it's veering into analysis that goes better in the "melt season" thread. 

My fault, but let's take it over there.

[Dharma Rupa]

Sorry, I shouldn't have started this in this thread, it's veering into analysis that goes better in the "melt season" thread. 

My fault, but let's take it over there.

Agreed...though it might not really fit there either...it is sort of a transition remark.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 25^th, 2018: 4,871,597 km², a drop of -32,974 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,904,571 km2（August 24, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 14 k km2  (0.3%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 26 k (0.5 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a large 404 k km2 (4.3 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 94.6 % of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is  4.33 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.18 to 4.50 million km2 - a narrowing range but still raising the possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling waned but then waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to just below average for several days. There is, on average, just over 5% (18 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss do a 2017 and sharply reduce? Yes.

A September minimum in the range of 4.00 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at 4th place or higher. It also seems highly probable that the data will show that melt was below average, considerably so.

[gerontocrat]

WHOOPS!

NSIDC Total Area as at 25 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,596,592  km2
This is 175 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss 2,267 Km2 , which is rather small

Central Seas GAIN        1 k,
Peripheral Seas loss      1 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss            2 k,  all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 3 k, area 61 k, now above 2010's average.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea gain 0 k, area 29 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea loss 1 k, area 51k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area gain 2 k, area is now 27 k, < 5% of 1980's average maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 3 k, area 25 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea gain 4 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 3 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 16 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea GAIN 14 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 2 k, Area now 20 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of a mere 2k is below average by about 25k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 43k, below average for the day. But daily extent lost 56k after a loss of 88 k and a gain of 54k the days before. End of season wobbles. About 3 weeks or less to go.

It is all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA and now the Central Arctic have stalled. Is it now just about the ESS ? The melting season ain't over yet, there was a chorus of fat ladies waiting in the wings for a chance to sing, but I think two left and may not be coming back and another one is on the way out.....

[Steven]

NSIDC daily sea ice area is currently 3.64 million km2, which is 9th lowest for the date.  (It was briefly 6th lowest on Wednesday.)

Regarding the minimum:  The year-to-date minimum for 2018 so far is 3.56 million km2 on 22 August.  That would rank as the 10th lowest minimum so far, but it will probably become 9th lowest soon, if it drops below the 2009 minimum of 3.55 million km2.  To become 8th lowest or lower, it should drop below the 2015 minimum of 3.14 million km2.  It remains to be seen whether that is possible in the next few weeks.

[gerontocrat]

The Central Arctic Sea Area and Extent continue to show different trends vs the 2010's average.

[mostly_lurking]

NSIDC daily sea ice area is currently 3.64 million km2, which is 9th lowest for the date.  (It was briefly 6th lowest on Wednesday.)

or 4th highest this date since 2007 
Why not be positive?

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 26^th, 2018: 4,860,720 km², a drop of -10,877 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[Wherestheice]

Can someone post the resulting minimums of JAXA extent data in previous years?

[pauldry600]

Yes I was thinking that too

Wouldnt think therel be much more  big drops

[Neven]

Can someone post the resulting minimums of JAXA extent data in previous years?

The September minimums are mentioned in the opening post of the monthly JAXA polls.

[Brigantine]

Can someone post the resulting minimums of JAXA extent data in previous years?

Jaxa September minimums for the past 15  years have been:
(from the poll OP, re-ordered and 2018 latest value added for context)

2003     5933760
2004     5683663
2006     5625046
2005     5179300
2009     5054055
2014     4884120
2018     4860720 [to date]
2013     4809288
2010     4622092
2008     4500623
2017     4472225
2011     4269199
2015     4257003
2007     4065739
2016     4017264
2012     3177455

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,860,720 km2（August 26, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 65 k km2  (1.3%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 49 k (1.0 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a large 455 k km2 (4.8 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 95.2% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.38 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.22 to 4.52 million km2 - a narrowing range but now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting slowed to just below average for several days and is now nearly stalled. There is, on average, just under 5% (17 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss do a 2017 and sharply reduce? Yes.

A September minimum in a higher range of 4.25 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at higher than 4th place. It also seems highly probable that the data will show that melt was well below average, considerably so.

[pauldry600]

A complete waste of a melt season

Before it even began i thought extent would min at 4.5m

Its worse being closer to the mark than being bang out like I was last year

Even though one could argue that lower than average melt is good the Arctic is fooling us all. Its retaining extent but losing ice in places that have rarely seen ice loss ever.

E.g North Greenland last week

[gerontocrat]

Double WHOOPS!

NSIDC Total Area as at 26 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,596,199  km2
This is 213 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss 393 Km2 , which is rather minuscle

Central Seas GAIN        3 k,
Peripheral Seas loss      1 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss            2 k,  all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 4 k, area 57 k, now just above 2010's average.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 1 k, area 28 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea loss 0 k, area 50k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area gain 1 k, area is now 28 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 3 k, area 22 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea gain 6 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 1 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 18 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea GAIN 19 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 2 k, Area now 18 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of a mere 0.3 k is below average by about 40k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 23k, 25k below average for the day. Daily extent loss was 40k, (after 56k, 88 k losses and a gain of 54k the days before). End of season wobbles. Less than 3 weeks  to go.

It is all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA and now the Central Arctic have stalled. Is it now just about the ESS ? The melting season is not over yet, there was a chorus of fat ladies waiting in the wings for a chance to sing, but I think two left and may not be coming back and another one also left .....

[gerontocrat]

Herewith the current area graphs for those 4 seas that are the last bastions of Arctic Sea Ice.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 27^th, 2018: 4,832,062 km², a drop of -28,658 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT  4,832,062 km2（August 27, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 88 k km2  (1.8%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 20 k (0.4 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a large 472 k km2 (5.0 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 95.7% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.40 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.27 to 4.50 million km2 - a narrowing range but now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to below average for many days. There is, on average, just over 4% (16 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss continue to do a 2017 and sharply reduce? Yes.

A September minimum in a higher range of 4.25 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at 6th place. It also seems highly probable that the data will show that melt was well below average, very much so.

EDIT: Previous day's Arc2 graph posted in error. Correction

[gerontocrat]

Triple WHOOPS

NSIDC Total Area as at 27 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,589,403  km2
This is 245 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss 7k , which is rather small

Central Seas loss          4 k,
Peripheral Seas loss      2 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss            1 k,  all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 5 k, area 53 k, just above 2010's average.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 1 k, area 27 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea loss 1 k, area 50k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area loss 1 k, area 27 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 1 k, area 21 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea gain 3 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 0 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 13 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea GAIN 12 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 0 k, Area 18 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of a mere 7 k is below average by about 30k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 29k, 30k below average for the day. Daily extent loss was 15k, (after 40k, 56k, 88 k losses and a gain of 54k the days before). End of season wobbles. Less than 3 weeks  to go.

It is all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA and now the Central Arctic have stalled. Is it now just about the ESS ? The melting season is not over yet, or is it near as dammit?  There was a chorus of fat ladies waiting in the wings for a chance to sing, but I think now three have left and are not coming back....

[Stephan]

If I look at the temperature and ice speed and drift data for the next days, the only relevant decline in Arctic Sea Ice can be expected in the ESS which is pushed eastward into N Chukchi Sea and clearing up east of the N. Sib. Islands. So the only "lady still waiting to sing" will certainly be the ESS.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 28^th, 2018: 4,804,103 km², a drop of -27,959 km².
2018 is the sixth lowest on record.

[Brigantine]

Now below the 2013 minimum.

2003     5933760
2004     5683663
2006     5625046
2005     5179300
2009     5054055
2014     4884120
2013     4809288
2018     4804103 [to date]
2010     4622092
2008     4500623
2017     4472225
2011     4269199
2015     4257003
2007     4065739
2016     4017264
2012     3177455

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT 4,804,103 km2（August 28, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 99 k km2  (2.1%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 9 k (0.2 %) below 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a large 480 k km2 (5.0 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 96.0% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.41 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.29 to 4.53 million km2 - a narrowing range but now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to below average for many days. There is, on average, just  4% (15 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss continue to do a 2017 and sharply reduce? Yes.

A September minimum in a higher range of 4.25 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at 6th place. It also seems highly probable that the data will show that melt was well below average, very much so.

[Rob Dekker]

Thank you Juan García and gerontocrat for your daily updates.
Very much appreciated !

[gerontocrat]

Triple and 1/2 WHOOPS

NSIDC Total Area as at 28 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,561,556  km2
This is 256 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date
 3,561,556    -27,847    -882    -21,797    -5,168

Total Area loss             28k , which is about 10 k below average

Central Seas loss          22 k,
Peripheral Seas loss      1 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss            5 k,  all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 5 k, area 48 k, just above 2010's average.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 1 k, area 26 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea loss 0 k, area 49k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area loss 1 k, area 27 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 1 k, area 20 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea loss 2 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 1 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 11 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea loss 4 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 5 k, Area 13 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of a 28 k is below average by about 10k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 43k, 10k below average for the day. Daily extent loss was 10k, (after 15k, 40k, 56k, 88 k losses and a gain of 54k the days before). End of season wobbles. 2 weeks  to go?

It is was (?) all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA and now the Central Arctic have stalled. Is it now just about the ESS ? The melting season is not over yet, or is it near as dammit?  There was a chorus of fat ladies waiting in the wings for a chance to sing, but I think now three have left and are not coming back....

[miki]

Thank you Juan García and gerontocrat for your daily updates.
Very much appreciated !

Truly. Thanks!

[Stephan]

Indeed, Juan and gerontocrat have to be thanked for their continuous and valuable contributions in this thread!

[Hautbois]

Running back chart update. I thought I'd add in the 2010s average curve, especially as 2018 has been showing it considerable devotion over the last week or two.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 29^th, 2018: 4,793,787 km², a drop of -10,316 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT 4,793,787 km2（August 29, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 126 k km2  (2.6%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 18 k (0.4 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a very large 506 k km2 (5.3 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 96.4% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.43 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.27 to 4.54 million km2 - now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to below average for many days. There is, on average, just under 4% (14 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss continue to do a 2017 and sharply reduce as it has been doing for some time? Yes.

A September minimum in a higher range of 4.25 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at 6th or 7th place. It also seems certain that the data will show that melt was well below average, very much so.

[gerontocrat]

Triple and 1/2 WHOOPS Loss up a bit

NSIDC Total Area as at 29 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,520,440  km2

This is 245 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss             41k , which is about 10 k above average

Central Seas loss          41 k,
Peripheral Seas gain        1 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss               1 k, all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 5 k, area 43 k, just above 5% of maximum.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 1 k, area 25 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea gain 1 k, area 50k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area gain 1 k, area 27 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 2 k, area 19 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea loss 8 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 1 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 10 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea loss 18 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 1 k, Area 12 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of 41 k is above average by about 10k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 31 k, 17k below average for the day. Daily extent loss was 35k, (after 10k, 15k, 40k, 56k, the days before). End of season wobbles. 2 weeks  to go?

It is was is (?) all about the 4 (?) central seas now. The Beaufort and the CAA and now the Central Arctic had stalled, but now the Beaufort and Central Arctic Seas are showing losses. I am giving up making comments about the end of the season.. a mug's game.

EDIT: So much for auto-pilot, tables including the 29th August now attached

[Ned W]

JAXA [forecasted minimum] has been staying persistently within the range of 4.2 to 4.3 million km2 for some time now. 

... and then, the next day:

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is  4.33 million km2.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.38 million km2.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.40 million km2.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.41 million km2.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.43 million km2.

 

[gerontocrat]

Ah well, Ned W, ..it happens.

I will admit I never expected JAXA extent loss to be half a million km2 below the 10 year average, and I did not expect to see a sea that just would not melt.

[Downpuppy]

Um, Gerontocrat? It looks like you may have reposted yesterday's area table.

[gerontocrat]

Um, Gerontocrat? It looks like you may have reposted yesterday's area table.

You are right - I should not try being clever with Excel's terrible macro system, should I.
Back to doing it the old-fashioned way.

[Downpuppy]

Thanks! I do like your tables.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 30^th, 2018: 4,768,735 km², a drop of -25,052 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT 4,768,735 km2（August 30, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 140 k km2  (2.9%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 45 k (0.9 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a very large 521 k km2 (5.4 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 96.8% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.45 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.26 to 4.53 million km2 - now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to below average for many days. There is, on average, just over 3% (13 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss continue to do a 2017 and sharply reduce further as it has been doing for some time? Yes.

A September minimum in a higher range of 4.25 to 4.50 million km2 seems very probable, with the result of least drama at 6th or 7th place. It also seems certain that the data will show that melt was well below average, very much so.

[gerontocrat]

Triple and 1/2 WHOOPS Loss up a bit Loss up more

NSIDC Total Area as at 30 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,469,718  km2

This is 223 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date

Total Area loss             51k , which is 20+ k above average

Central Seas loss          54 k,
Peripheral Seas gain        3 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas loss               0 k, all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 4 k, area 39 k, < 5% of maximum.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 1 k, area 25 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea gain 3 k, area 53k, Ice down the Fram?
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area gain 1 k, area 28 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 1 k, area 18 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea loss 10 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago gain 0 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 11 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea loss 28 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area loss 0 k, Area 11 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of 51 k is above average by about 20k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 15 k, 25k below average for the day. Daily extent was a gain of 21k, (after losses of 35k, 10k, 15k, 40k, and 56k, the days before). End of season wobbles. < 2 weeks  to go?

I am giving up making comments about the end of the season.. a mug's game.

[Stephan]

Eyeballing the daily extent loss and gain graph it looks like it is going to match the zero line quite soon, which means an early and comparably high minimum. Therefore I think that the decrease will increase for a few days, but a minimum above 2017 gets increasingly likely.

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 31^st, 2018: 40 minutes without being updated.
Seems that they will not update it today.
Please feel free to give us the information, if the new data appears on the following link:

https://ads.nipr.ac.jp/vishop/#/extent

[Juan C. García]

[ADS-NIPR-JAXA] ASI Extent.

August 31^st, 2018: 4,742,068 km², a drop of -26,667 km².
2018 is the seventh lowest on record.

[Stephan]

If 2018 continues like this in the next days it will even lose another place in the rank list and get higher than 2008...

[gerontocrat]

JAXA ARCTIC EXTENT 4,742,068 km2（August 31, 2018）

Just to add to Juan's post...
- Extent is now 148 k km2  (3.1%) above the 2010's average extent on this date,
- and 474 k (1.6 %) above 2017,
- Extent loss to date is now a very large 534 k km2 (5.5 %) below the 2008-2017 average, with 97.2% of the average melting season done.

Resulting minimum from average remaining melt is up to 4.46 million km2. Range of results from last ten years remaining melt is 4.26 to 4.56 million km2 - now raising a real possibility of an end result of above 2017.

That 2017 feeling has waxed consistently for some time - melting has slowed to below average for many days. There is, on average, just under 3% (13 days) of further low and highly variable extent losses to go. Could the melting season last a bit longer than that - Yes.  On the other hand, could extent loss continue to do a 2017 and sharply reduce further as it has been doing for some time? Yes.

ps The only prediction I am willing to make on this year's outcome is that the 2018 minimum will be at or below 4,742,068 km2.

pps: Two more people have entered the also-ran list in the August JAXA Extent poll by voting 4.75 to 5.25 for the minimum.

[gerontocrat]

Triple and 1/2 WHOOPS Loss up a bit Loss up more Loss up even more

NSIDC Total Area as at 31 August (5 day trailing average) = 3,415,194  km2

This is 195 k above the 2010-2017 average total area for this date
 
Total Area loss             55k , which is 25+ k above average

Central Seas loss          56 k,
Peripheral Seas gain        0 k, all seas at or near zero area.
Other Seas gain              1 k, all seas at or near zero area.

Analysis of individual seas.
Pacific Side
- The Bering Sea - finished,
- Chukchi Sea loss 3 k, area 37 k, < 5% of maximum.
Atlantic Side
- Baffin Sea loss 0 k, area 25 k, <5% of max,
- Greenland Sea gain 1 k, area 54k,
- Barents Sea - finished,
- The Kara Sea area gain 0 k, area 28 k, < 5% of maximum.
- The Laptev Sea area loss 0 k, area 18 k, <5% of maximum.

CAB
- Beaufort Sea loss 8 k,
- The Canadian Archipelago loss 2 k,
- East Siberian Sea loss 7 k .
- The Central Arctic Sea loss 37 k,

Other seas
- St Lawrence -finished,
- Hudson Bay area gain 1 k, Area 13 k,
- The Okhotsk Sea - finished.

On average, this is when daily area loss declines sharply and wobbles from day to day. The area loss of 55 k is above average by about 25k for this day. Extent loss (also 5-day trailing average)) was 20 k, 20k below average for the day. Daily extent was a loss of 61k, (after gain of 21k and before that losses of 35k, 10k, 15k, 40k, ). End of season wobbles. < 2 weeks  to go?

I am giving up making comments about the end of the season.. a mug's game.