"This week the extent of Arctic sea ice dipped below the extent for 2007, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). As you may remember, the 2007 season holds the record for lowest Arctic sea-ice extent in recorded history."

"Walt Meier at NSIDC tells me the melt is accelerating, notably in the Bering Sea, where higher than normal winter ice hung around two to four weeks longer than average. But it's thawing fast now.

The Beaufort Sea north of Alaska and Canada and the Laptev Sea north of Siberia are also melting quickly. 'We don't normally see ice opening so fast in those areas,' says Meier. 'This is an indication that the ice there is pretty thin.'"

Julia Whitty reports for Mother Jones June 14, 2012.
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SEE ALSO:

"North-East Passage Soon Free From Ice Again" (SPX) [3]