[Isn’t there a meta-topic somewhere?]
More than one!
That was some nice arguing to wake up to, but I think the melting season is a lot more interesting, especially now. So, let's stay on-topic. And HelloMeteor, leave the politics out, please. There's a special (and awful) segment on this forum for that, called The Rest.
Newb here, first post.
Re Aluminium's GIF ... is that a hole forming above the pole?
Could be, but it can also be something throwing off the satellite sensor. My rule of thumb is to use the
false colour version of the Uni Bremen Sea Ice Concentration map, and if there is yellow/pink/green for more than 3-4 days in a row, it's probably real.
If so, has there ever been a major hole before?
I vaguely remember something about a (smallish) hole showing up in that location two years in a row, some time ago. But what is more common, is what we refer to here as the Laptev Bite, ie open water reaching towards the Pole.
It's difficult for holes to pop up in the middle of the ice pack at this time of year, because ice floes are very mobile and usually cover the open water again, as soon as the winds turn. But it may happen due to upwelling of warmer currents.