Arctic Sea Ice Drops below 2007 Record
On August 26, 2012, the extent of Arctic water covered by sea ice fell below 4.17 million square kilometers (1.61 million square miles), the record minimum set in 2007. The new record low for sea ice in 2012 fits into a larger pattern of a changing Arctic. Regarding the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice, NSIDC director remarks, “What is perhaps most surprising is that we are no longer surprised…”