The August Extent Loss Oscillation (a belated 2015 update)

In 2014 I posted about an apparent oscillation of August extent loss, I updated this with preliminary data in August 2015, but failed to return to the issue to see how things actually turned out. As this issue has a bearing on the post that follows, and prompted by reading a comment at Neven's blog about claimed cycles in sea ice, I am posting this to update data on last year's August extent loss.

Beaufort Cryosat February

Beaufort has already started to collapse, I will have more about that in a post to follow when I have the time tomorrow. For now, I have amended images from Meereisportal for a close look at Cryosat 2 ice thickness in Beaufort.

More commentary about the recent Cryosat 2 data is available from Neven at the Arctic Sea Ice Blog.

Problems with DMSP-F17 SSMIS data

So far this month NSIDC have suspended all processing of the Sea Ice Index (G02135). This is explained on the NSIDC Sea Ice Index page as follows.

Notice (04/05/2016): Due to issues with the DMSP-F17 SSMIS data used to create the Sea Ice Index, we are suspending processing and investigating the problem with our data providers. Learn More. For questions, contact NSIDC User Services.

What is interesting about maximum extent?

The maximum has never excited me in the way the minimum extent can, but there is something interesting about it.

PIOMAS 29 February

PIOMAS data is now out. So here is a summary of the data based on the gridded data provided by the PIOMAS team. Once again thanks is due to the PIOMAS team for making this data available and up to date.

Record Total Precipitable Water through January and February

Below is a graph of Total Precipitable Water (TPW) through January and February from NCEP/NCAR.

Extreme Arctic Warmth Continued into February

NCEP/NCAR temperature data is now out for February 2015, it shows January's staggering warmth in the Arctic continuing.