Winter that wasn't update: Arctic sea ice maximum is 10,000 Manhattans bigger this year than last year; maximum occurred 12 days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date

Arctic sea ice maximum marks beginning of melt season « Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis

On March 18, 2012 Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 15.24 million square kilometers (5.88 million square miles). The maximum extent was 614,000 square kilometers (237,000 square miles) below the 1979 to 2000 average of 15.86 million square kilometers (6.12 million square miles). The maximum occurred this year 12 days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 6.

This year’s maximum ice extent was the ninth lowest in the satellite record, slightly higher than the 2008 maximum (15.24 million square kilometers or 5.88 million square miles) Last year, 2011, was the lowest maximum on record, 14.64 million square kilometers (5.65 million square miles).