Not surprising that the data is causing such a stir. The graph is very much in uncharted territory.
JAXA ARCTIC SEA ICE EXTENT: 7,117,005 KM2 as at 14-Jul-2020
- Extent loss on this day 187k, 89 k more than the average loss on this day (of the last 10 years) of 98k,
- Extent loss from maximum on this date is 7,331 k, 917 k, 14.3% more than the 10 year average of 6,414 k.
- Extent is at position #1 in the satellite record
- Extent is 454 k LESS than 2019,
- Extent is 494 k LESS than 2016,
- Extent is 560 k LESS than 2012
- Extent is 686 k LESS than 2007
Crosspost of Gerontocrat's comments on extent and area thread, with thanks, as ever, to him and Juan for their indefatigable work, graphs and analyses.
Looking at Gerontocrat's and Juan's graphs on the thread, it seems that the loss of extent is about 4 days ahead of any previous year. That is probably more significant at this time of year since we are still in the period of maximum
effective solar insolation/albedo warming potential, and there are continuing clear skies. It is also perhaps more significant when the ice is compacted, since the warm seas cannot get so readily at the ice right now to melt it and therefore insolation is paramount. And yet those warm seas are still heating up, biding their time, waiting for a low.
Latest area is still at #3. That should not be forgotten.