March 9 2023: The sea ice has decreased since last week at a very small level of 0.40%, from the level on 03/02/2023 of 14.628 M km2 to 14.569 M km2 for this week. While that is not a large decrease, it really is the tipping point for the sea ice season. The week actually started with an initial small increase on March 7th, which was then followed by two days in a row of decrease since from March 8-9. The negative sea ice anomaly this week was lower than the anomaly of -0.837 M km2 on 03/02/2023 to a greater negative anomaly of -0.888 M km2 on 03/09/2023 and so more anomalously negative for this time of year. 

March 2 2023: Over the past week, the sea ice has continued to increase and at slightly higher rate than last week, of 1.72%, from the level on 02/23/2023 of 14.376 M km2 to 14.628 M km2 for this week; and so while growing at a bit higher rate this week, we are still quickly approaching the end of the sea ice growth season, that is typically in mid-March.  The negative sea ice anomaly this week was higher than the anomaly of -1.041 M km2 on 02/23/2023 to a lower negative anomaly of -0.837 M km2 on 03/02/2023 and so less anomalously negative for this time of year.

February 23, 2023: Over the past week, the sea ice has continued to increase and at only a very slightly higher rate than last week, of 0.41% (yes 0.41%), from the level on 02/16/2023 of 14.317 M km2 to 14.376 M km2 for this week; so coupled with the progressively slowing down of sea ice growth over the last several weeks, it is possible that we may be approaching the end of the sea ice growth season – that is typically in mid-March, but who knows, it may start a bit sooner.  The negative sea ice anomaly this week was lower than the anomaly of -0.991 M km2 on 02/16/2023 to a greater negative anomaly of -1.041 M km2 on 02/23/2023 and so more anomalously negative for this time of year.

February 16, 2023: Over the past week, the sea ice has continued to increase and at a slightly higher rate than last week, of 1.91%, from the level on 02/09/2023 of 14.044 M km2 to 14.317 M km2 for this week; for the last several weeks, the sea ice growth has really been progressively slowing down each week over the past 5 weeks now since the 2nd week in January; and so this week’s growth is almost twice the rate of the 6 six weeks. The negative sea ice anomaly this week was a bit greater than the anomaly of -1.052 M km2 on 02/02/2023 to a greater negative anomaly of -1.104 M km2 on 02/09/2023 and so a bit more anomalously negative for this time of year.

February 9, 2023: Over the past week, the sea ice has continued to increase but at a slightly lower rate than last week, of 1.03%, from the level on 02/02/2023 of 13.899 M km2 to 14.044 M km2 for this week; for the last several weeks, the sea ice growth has really been progressively slowing down each week over the past 5 weeks now since the 2nd week in January.  The negative sea ice anomaly this week was a bit greater than the anomaly of -1.052 M km2 on 02/02/2023 to a greater negative anomaly of-1.104 M km2 on 02/09/2023 and so a bit more anomalously negative for this time of year.

February 2, 2023: Over the past week, the sea ice has continued to increase but at a slightly lower rate than last week, of 1.19%, from the level on 01/26/2023 of 13.734 M km2 to 13.899 M km2 for this week; for the last few weeks, the sea ice growth has really been progressively slowing down each week over the pat 4 weeks since the 2nd week in January. The negative sea ice anomaly this week was a bit greater than the anomaly of -0.998 M km2 on 01/12/2023 to a greater negative anomaly of-1.052 M km2 on 02/02/2023 and so a bit more anomalously negative for this time of year.