Using the 1981 to 2010 median produces narrower swaths of “average of average” values: interquartiles (dark gray) and interdeciles (light gray) bands. Note that the median line (charcoal) is NOT exactly centered within the interquartile and interdecile bands; more interquartile and interdecile values occur below the median than above it, characteristic of a lopsided distribution. Also note that the 2022 extent line (blue) only grazes the bottom interdecile band in late August; for the rest of the period shown, the 2022 value falls below average. This indicates that, while it is well above the 2012 record low, the 2022 extent is nevertheless unusually low. — Credit: NSIDC Charctic