I looked at the October 1, 2004 vs. the October 1, 2014 map. There seems to be a major reduction in the purple colored regions. The map key doesn't say what the white signifies, but it is about the same or a little reduced and rearranged on the 2014 map. I would have to say it looks like there is less ice this year than there was 10 years ago. I just chose those two dates at random, because it was set up with October 1 as the date initially. It looks like there is a major change between 1994 and 2004, also. I would have to say it looks like a 20 year trend towards loss of ice in the Arctic. Whether that is a long-term trend or just for those two decades, I cannot say. But it certainly looks to me like there is less of the thick ice up there.

If you don't care for reality, just wait a while; another will be along shortly. --A Rose