The current warming trend 1998 - 2005, has no precedent in recent Arctic
memory, there were a few unique occasions when open water was seen during mid-winter over Barrow Strait, but this was at roughly 10 year intervals, now the intervals are
totally irregular, but between Islands ice cover is not the best indication of warming, monthly temperature readings for the past 4 years or so, have been mostly above
normal by 1 to the occasional 4 to 5 degrees.