Sea Ice Extent
February's Northern Hemisphere Sea Ice extent
February's Northern Hemisphere
Sea Ice Extent plot

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the February 2008 Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent, which is measured from passive microwave instruments onboard NOAA satellites, was below the 1979-2000 mean, but greater than the previous four years. This was the fifth least February sea ice extent on record. Including 2008, the past five years had the least February sea ice extent since records began in 1979. Sea ice extent for February has decreased at a rate of 2.8%/decade (since satellite records began in 1979) as temperatures in the high latitude Northern Hemisphere have risen at a rate of approximately 0.37°C/decade over the same period.

February's Southern Hemisphere Sea Ice extent
February's Southern Hemisphere
Sea Ice Extent plot

Meanwhile, the February 2008 Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was much above the 1979-2000 mean. This was the second largest sea ice extent in February (27% above the 1979-2000 mean) over the 30-year historical period, behind 2003. Sea ice extent for February has increased at a rate of 3.4%/decade.

For further information on the Northern and Southern Hemisphere snow and ice conditions, please visit the NSIDC News page, provided by the NOAA's National Snow and Ice Data center (NSIDC).

Again not bad considering that Mars is warming as well! We are talking point this and point that and mean variations that have been with us since man has roamed the earth! Change is normal and natural and we are not the cause!

The amazing thing the records have only been measured and kept since 1979! We are expected to believe them?