While sea ice loss in 2012 had some atmospheric conditions supporting loss at the beginning of summer, the loss in 2012 probably was the result of thin sea ice initial conditions. (searcharcticscience.org)
If warming yields thinner sea ice and areas of open water, these changes allow heat to escape from the ocean more readily. (judithcurry.com)
Sovcomflot vessel cut through thinning sea ice on the northern sea route to carry its cargo of fuel from Norway to South Korea in record time (climatechangenews.com)