By RTCC Staff
The Arctic has lost more sea ice this year than in any other year since satellite records begun, says NASA.
The scientists involved in the calculations found sea ice was covering 1.58 million square miles, compared to the previous record low of 1.61 million square miles in 2007, and they warn this is part of a fundamental change.
Sea ice extent in previous record year of 2007 (left) and this year (Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center)
Earlier this month, scientists from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center warned that is moment was coming.
The sea ice in the Arctic grows during the cold winters and shrinks when temperatures climb in the summer months. Over the last three years a 13% decline per decade in the summertime minimum has been observed.
Arctic sea ice extent as of August 26, 2012, along with daily ice extent data for 2007, the previous record low year, and 1980, the record high year (Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center)
While sea ice normally reaches a low point in September, the scientists warn this breaking of the record earlier in the summer is likely to mean the sea ice will continue to melt before the sea ice cap begins to grow again.