New Record for Arctic Sea Ice

The area of the Arctic Ocean covered by ice shrank to a record low of 4.21 million square kilometers breaking the 2007 record of 4.25 million square kilometers.  Melting should continue for a few more weeks.

Update (August 27):  Further confirmation reporting the extent as 4.10 million square kilometers compared to 4.17 million square kilometers in 2007.  Also, why the loss of sea ice matters.

Update (December 10, 2013):  A study indicates a possible link between melting sea ice and summer heat waves and drought.  Warming in the arctic and antarctic reduces the temperature difference between the poles and equator which pushes the jet stream toward the poles.