According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) the last record low for Arctic sea ice extent was recorded in September 2007. That year was also the first time the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic was ice free since satellite records began in 1978.
Researchers at the University of Bremen have reported that according to their calculations September 8, 2011 represents a new record minimum for the extent of Arctic sea ice extent. They used high-resolution microwave data from a sensor on NASA’s Aqua satellite. They estimated that the observed sea ice extent was 4.24 million km2, 27,000 km2 less than the previous record in 2007. However, other researchers report this year’s minimum extent was a close second to 2007.
The Northwest Passage was again ice free this year, and the Northeast Passage north of Russia was passable with the help of an icebreaker.
A dramatic change in the Petermann glacier in northern Greenland has also been reported.
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