Should we expect another record year of Arctic Sea Ice melting?

Question

The latest report from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows a rapidly accelerating sea ice extent decline. The month of May saw a loss of 8,000 km^2 sea ice per day (60% more rapid than last year at this time).

It looks like the ice produced in 2008 (though a cold year), is simply too thin to hold up and we may be exceeding last Septembers record low level. Should we expect headlines in August or September about new record low sea ice levels?

http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_timeseries.png

Answer 1

it was scary hearing one researcher refer to it as a 'hollywood stage set'.

yes, i reckon there will be very little left this year.

Answer 2

yup the worlds gonna be under water next year, lets all get our boats ready hahaha, what a joke.

Answer 3

It certainly looks like it's going to be close.  It will probably depend on the global temperature change the rest of the year.  My guess based on the ice extent trend so far and monthly temperature data is that this year's melt will be almost the same as last year's.