Only time will tell if 2008 marked the tipping point for the Arctic sea ice, but it may well have been. (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

Last year, at this time, the ice was much thicker and had not yet exhibited large cracks all over the surface (as observed from the satellite photos, which are updated several times per day -- you can find these at: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/satellite/index_e.html. They are the IR at 10.7 µm.).

This latest satellite photo shows that the freeze this winter has not restored the ice to its former state, not by a long shot.

The view (click to enlarge), below, is of the ice off of northern Canada, with a bit of Ellesmere Island in the upper right corner, and Alaska's northern coast in the lower left.


http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/data/satellite/hrpt_yrb_ir_100.jpg