IN MINUTES

News and events visually

Sea ice extent

Sept. 18, 2006

1979-2000 average extent

Sea ice present Land mass

Sept. 16, 2007

Sea ice coverage across the Arctic Ocean has dwindled to its second-lowest level since 1979, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

Lowest recorded since 1979

Impacts of ice loss

As ice cover retreats, areas of open water absorb heat that the ice normally reects. The water warms up, and before ice can form again in the fall, the ocean must release that heat to the atmosphere. Could open up new regions to shipping, tourism, and oil extraction. Ice provides an important travel route for Arctic land-based species such as caribou and muskox, allowing them to travel between islands and mainland areas for feeding and mating. More open water in the Arctic Ocean allows for increased land erosion due to wave action, forcing residents of coastal towns to abandon their villages. Can change global weather and precipitation patterns. The jet stream will probably move further north in response to warmer temperatures over the pole, which will bring more precipitation to the Arctic.

5.8 million sq. km

Sept. 12, 2008
Was the secondlowest recorded since 1979

4.1 million sq. km

Sept. 12, 2009
Was the thirdlowest recorded since 1979

Arctic sea ice extent

2007
12

2011

1979-2000 average

Extent (millions of sq. km)

4.52 million sq. km

Sept. 10, 2010

5.1 million sq. km

Sept. 14, 2011

10 8 6 4 2

New secondlowest recorded since 1979

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

A recent study from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado found that observed Arctic loss of sea ice can be attributed to both increased greenhouse gases and from variability in climate such as changes in wind patterns.
Sources: National Snow and Data Centre

4.76 million sq. km

4.34 million sq. km

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY