Using the graph Roy Spence supplied, he has 1902-1935 (32 years) as decline, 1935-1970 (35 years) as rise, 1970 to 1990 as decline then rise, then 1990 to 2007 (27 years) as decline. We do know that 2012 was the lowest year for Arctic Sea Ice decline and it has continued to 2017 so that would make it 37 years in decline. Are we due for a turn around is that what he is suggesting?
Just for your reference summers dominated by low pressure, as has been the case for 2017, are generally not conducive to ice loss. Low pressure brings fenerally cool conditions and the cyclonic (counterclockwise) winds help speead the ice over a large area. However, it appears that strong individual storms, such as the intense summer cyclone of 2012, may break up the ice and mix warm ocean waters onto the sea ice, contributing to ice loss.
