North of Alaska new rapid melting area 120,000 Km^2 appears sudden, but is more something to do with water and sea ice temperature. Note buoy
2014C likely floating about in the wider open zone to the West , is reporting -1 C water, likely enough to help further the thawing process. What appeared more solid a mere 6 days earlier almost disappears overnight. Despite -2 C weather, which is permeated by a Low pressure system. Sea ice appears most fragile when the ice temperature is equal to surface water, particularly at this time of the year. The total accumulated heat by open water won't go rapidly, only very cold surface air temperatures will stop this process. WD August28,2014
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