Regarding bottom melt in the Beaufort. whoi itp103 is currently tethered to one of the many floes north of the mclure strait. Two microcats are mounted at 6m and 7m depth which measure temperature, salinity and pressure. Temperature has risen significantly over the past week while salinity has dropped (not shown, please see https://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=163356 )
Heat from the sun has entered the top layers of the ocean water there.
Although it's not very much. Thsts enough to do about 1-1.5cm of bottom melt a day.
This is why I don't believe a new record is coming.
There is just about no chance that ice melts out.
I thought for a while that it was possible but the most recent push of heat into the Western CAB/Beaufort it's to underwhelming.
And the weather forecasts are very good for protection of the ice.
Expecially the Beaufort region after day 4-5.
I think this year will finish in the top 3.
But over coming the CAA, Beaufort, and Western CAB.
No way and the Atlantic side has seen almost no Southerly WAA.
The Laptev and ESS could make a push towards the pole with open water tho.