Albedo: Melting

If forecasts for the next week verify, most of the snow in Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and Siberia will be gone next week. Much of the snow on the Arctic ice cap will also melt.

Meanwhile, Arctic sea ice area and extent are tracking at record lows. From Arctic Sea Ice Forum (Jim Pettit):

ADS-NIPR Extent:

10,880,319 km2 (23 May)

Down 3,062,188 km2 (21.96%) from 2016 maximum of 13,942,507 km2 on 29 February.

7,702,864 km2 above record minimum extent of 3,177,455 km2 (16 September 2012).

Down 43,644 km2 (-.4%) from previous day.

Down 317,590 km2 (-2.84%) over past seven days (daily average: -45,370 km2).

Down 1,413,128 km2 (-11.55%) for May (daily average: -61,440 km2).

1,126,654 km2 below 2000s average for this date.

708,050 km2 below 2010s average for this date.

436,128 km2 below 2015 value for this date.

1,007,308 km2 below 2012 value for this date.

...

CT Area:

9,896,835 km2 (24 May [Day 0.3917])

Down 3,024,523 km2 (23.41%) from 2016 maximum of 12,921,358 km2 on 29 March [Day 0.2384].

7,662,826 km2 above record minimum area of 2,234,010 km2 (14 September 2012).

Down 94,437 km2 (-.95%) from previous day.

Down 424,409 km2 (-4.13%) over past seven days (daily average: -60,630 km2).

Down 1,320,497 km2 (-11.86%) for May (daily average: -55,021 km2).

1,010,888 km2 below 2000s average for this date.

603,686 km2 below 2010s average for this date.

583,022 km2 below 2015 value for this date.

736,273 km2 below 2012 value for this date.

Low ice area also means low albedo means more solar energy absorption. Could be a big time melt this year.

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