Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/arctic-s-record-breaking-ice-melt Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Story September 2012 saw the greatest loss of sea ice since satellites began taking data in 1979. The total area of sea ice now measures 1.52 million square miles. The historical average is 7 million square miles for this time of year.