Arctic sea ice spreading

Arctic sea ice may have started rebuilding after reaching a record low, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Arctic ice now covers 1.61 million square miles, the agency said Thursday, up from 1.59 million Sept. 16, which appears to be the minimum.

Some variability could still occur, however, the agency cautioned.

The previous record low for Arctic sea ice was 2.05 million square miles set on Sept. 20-21, 2005 and the average low at the end of the summer melt is 2.60 million square miles.

The Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the coasts of Canada and Alaska remains open but it starting to refreeze, the center said. The Northeast Passage along the coast of Siberia is closed by ice, according to the center, located in Boulder, Colo.

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On the Net:

National Snow and Ice Data Center: http://www.nsidc.org