2018 was the 5th lowest calendar year on record for annual average sea ice volume in the Arctic. After 2017, 2012, 2016 & 2011. Since New Year we’ve climbed further up, and by early March it seems likely we’ll go beyond the 14 mark for the first time since November 2016, by averaging higher than 14 thousand km³ sea ice volume.

Q: Where’s the data source for this plot?
A: Here: http://psc.apl.uw.edu/research/projects/arctic-sea-ice-volume-anomaly/data/
Q: How can anyone make an annual average graph?
A: Easy. Use a computer. Add all the ice for the latest 365 days, divide by that number of days.
Q: Why would I even do that?
A: Let’s say you want to know how much ice we have in 2019 compared to other years.