Another month has passed and so here is the updated Arctic sea ice volume graph as calculated by the Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS) at the Polar Science Center:

http://neven1.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f03a1e37970b01bb09684144970d-800wi

Note how after October, the 2016 curve actually dropped BELOW the record low-ice year of 2012.

2016 has come to a close, and unfortunately the story hasn’t improved. Due to a constant barrage of storms, bringing relatively warm temperatures, winds and moisture to the Arctic, sea ice still has problems forming at the edges, as well as thickening in the centre. And thus the year has closed with the lowest modeled sea ice volume on record.

There’s just no end to this run we have had with anomalously warm temperatures, and storms blowing in from the Atlantic. Maybe things will calm down as soon as global temperatures stop going up at the rapid rate of the past few years. Maybe they won’t. There’s nothing for it but to hope that an extreme cold spell comes in from somewhere (Siberia?) and the ice gets a chance to thicken before the Sun makes its appearance in March/April. Otherwise things will be looking more grim than ever when the melting season starts again.

http://neven1.typepad.com/blog/2017/01/piomas-january-2017.html#more

Lots of neat graphics and stats here folks, for those of you who are hung up on logic and “facts”.