The DMI arctic ice extent graph in its normal state.
Many had taken note of the Danish Meteorological Institute’s strange sea ice graph apparently showing projected sea ice for the next two weeks. It couldn’t have looked much weirder, unless they had continued the line off the graph and off users’ computer screens and across their desks and across the floor and out the door of their homes. That would have been the next weirder thing than what they actually had.
But it turns out none of the weirdness was intentional. In fact, not even the graph itself was intentional. I wrote to the very reliable and equally pleasant Gorm Dybkjær, who responded within a day or two:
The graph that caused head-scratching around the blogosphere. Most assumed that the new DMI sea ice graph was purposeful. Thankfully it was a simple glitch that produced the apparent forecast.
Thanks for notifying me – we have had a series of unfortunate computer troubles, which created this unfortunate graphic that looks like an ice extent prognosis.This was NOT an attempt to forecast ice extent – sorry for the confusion. I will correct the error asap.
And, no surprise, Gorm has done exactly what he said he would. People can now go back to reading Arctic ice extent tea leaves to try to ferret out what the current year’s minimum might be. Carry on.
Talking About the Weather 