Minimum extent of Arctic sea ice for 2010, as calculated on 19 September by the National Snow and Ice Data Center. After reaching an apparent low on 10 September, the extent took another dip days later. The final numbers put 2010 in third place for the lowest sea extent, behind 2007 (still the record holder) and 2008. The ice continues to get thinner from below as well, as tracked by the University of Washington’s Polar Science Center and its Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System. The total volume of Arctic sea ice appears to have hit a record low in September, judging from anomalies produced by the PIOMAS system.

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