Arctic sea ice is the _ lowest on record, according to NASA and NSIDC:

a. 3rd

b. 4th

c. 5th

d. 2nd

ANSWER: 2nd

Explanation:

Summertime sea ice in the Arctic reached a minimum on September 10 and is now tied to the second lowest minimum in the satellite era

NASA and National Snow and Ice Data Centre on September 15, 2016 said summertime Arctic sea ice appears to have reached annual minimum on September 10

This will be tied with 2007 for the second lowest yearly minimum in satellite record

Satellite data showed this year’s minimum at 1.60 million square miles (4.14 million square km). The animation above tracks the evolution of Arctic sea ice cover during 2016.

Satellites monitor sea ice and have done so since 1978

This has been an unusual year with melt season beginning with a record low yearly maximum extent in March and a rapid ice loss through May.

But in June and July, low atmospheric pressures and cloudy skies slowed down the melt.