Highlights
The University of Washington’s Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System PIOMAS model combines data on sea ice concentration with models of ocean and atmospheric conditions to estimate total ice volume. Sea ice volume normally changes with the seasons, but monthly estimates through July 2011 show that the volume for each month has tracked well below the 1979 to 2010 average, and below the volume for 2007, which saw the record low ice extent. PIOMAS projects that this year’s minimum volume in September will very likely finish below 2007 and could even reach a record low volume.
The source article Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis was published August 16, 2011 by NOAA National Snow and Ice Data Center .
