14 DAY TRIAL // Early November saw Arctic sea ice formation rates dropping significantly, primarily on account of a strong Arctic Sea that criss-crossed its way around the Bering, Beaufort and Chukchi seas. At this point, ice formation is resuming at a normal pace.
Experts at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) made the announcement in their monthly report on the state of the Arctic. They also mentioned in the statement that ice melting was progressing within established limits in Antarctica.
Still, around the North Pole, there are currently 1.30 million square kilometers (502,000 square miles) less ice than during the 1979-2000 baseline period. Current sea ice extents reach 10.01 million square kilometers (3.86 million square miles).
Throughout the Chukchi, Barents and Kara seas, and the Hudson Bay, ice extents are well below normal for this time of the year.