It looks like the summer Arctic ice melt has finally bottomed out, and the N polar cap is starting to freeze over again. Although this has not been as severe a melt as some in the last few years, particularly 2012′s record breaking ice loss, it is still well below overall averages and consistent with the recent downward trend. This is the sixth lowest minimum of the last 35 years, as well as the 6th lowest minimum of the last 12 years. The trends are best understood by graphic analysis of the data.

Overall comparison:
http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/seaice/extent/Sea_Ice_Extent_v2.png

Detail of the last decade (2002-2014):

http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/en/home/seaice_extent_v2_prev.htm<img

The view from space (Sep 15):

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2014/09/Figure11-350×417.png