Further evidence of ice thinning in the Arctic Ocean

A sea ice thickness profile, obtained in September 1996 from the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean between Fram Strait and the North Pole, was compared with a profile obtained in the same region in September-October 1976. A decline in mean ice draft of 43% was observed over the 20-year interval, in agreement with changes observed in other parts of the Arctic Ocean by Rothrock et al. [1999].