The 2013 Arctic ice melt is still above average, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to have an extraordinary record meltdown like we did last year. However, it is still only August, and it is five weeks to the peak of the melt season. Maybe the fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Here is a graphic summary of the NSIDC July Report.

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

Map

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2013/08/Figure1-350×417.png

sea ice extent

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2013/08/Figure2.png

July comparison

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2013/08/Figure3-350×261.png

The Arctic sea ice extent for 6 Aug, 2013:
6.6 million square km.
Ice on this date in 2012:
5.9 million sq. km
All-time record low ice, 16 Sep, 2012:
3.5 million sq. km.

Decade minima averages:
1980s : 7.3 million sq km (9/11)
1990s : 6.6 million sq km (9/11)
2000s : 5.6 million sq km (9/15)

http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/en/home/seaice_extent.htm