Year September Arctic Sea Ice Extent (1,000,000 sq km) 1979 7.2 1980 7.85 1981 7.25 1982 7.45 1983 7.52 1984 7.17 1985 6.93 1986 7.54 1987 7.48 1988 7.49 1989 7.04 1990 6.24 1991 6.55 1992 7.55 1993 6.5 1994 7.18 1995 6.13 1996 7.88 1997 6.74 1998 6.56 1999 6.24 2000 6.32 2001 6.75 2002 5.96 2003 6.15 2004 6.05 2005 5.57 2006 5.92 2007 4.3 2008 4.68 2009 5.36 2010 4.9 2011 4.61 2012 3.61