Since 2015, rapid
Arctic sea-ice melting
observed over
previous decades,
has ended.
Comparing the
2007-2019
12-year period,
with the previous
1994-2006
12-year period:
For the
September
(minimum)
sea ice extent:
The first period shows
SIE loss of 20%,
but the second period
had a gain of 10%.
CO2 level changes
can not explain
those differences
in sea-ice behavior
between the two
12-year periods.
For the
March
(maximum)
sea ice extent:
The first period showed
a March SIE loss of 8%,
but the second period
displays the same
March SIE in 2019
as 12 years before.
CO2 level changes
can not explain
those differences
in sea-ice behavior
between the two
12-year periods.
The climatic factor
that best explains
sea-ice behavior
is the existence
in the climate system
of multi-decadal
oceanic-atmospheric
oscillations.
Those oscillations
are not part of the
general circulation
climate models,
because their origin
is unknown.