The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has taken a new stance on the probability of an ice-free Arctic this year, saying that it is not likely that the North Pole will have completely open waters this September. This bit of good fortune for the region is offset, however, by reports from Canadian scientists that the Arctic ice shelf had lost its biggest chunk of ice in over three years, reinforcing the theory that the melting that is occurring is part of a long term trend. more »