Odd patterns north and south of the equator.
Since 2007-2008, there has been no decrease of the Arctic Sea Extent - a trend now continuing for nearly 1/3 of the 46 year history of measured sea ice.
From 1992 through 2016, there was a near-continuous INCREASE in the area of sea ice around Antarctica. In fact, as recently as 2013 - 2014, the daily “excess area” of sea ice around Antarctica exceeded the entire area of Greenland several times.
However, the staff at University of Illinois at Cryosphere Research Center (Normal IL) was changed/retired out. And, since then, Antarctic Sea Ice Extents are 3-5 million km^2 less. Now, for the last two years, Antarctic Sea Ice Extents are setting new record-lows.
Nice catch.
A younger staff of committed zealots who understand data are what they make it.