Though the melting Arctic ice cap improved slightly over the last winter, but the scientists still threatened it was one of the worst years ever recorded.

National Snow and Ice Data Centre published the twice yearly figures of the winter high and summer low for the Arctic sea ice. It seemed to be the most powerful indication of global warming.

According to the data released for the winter of 2009-10, the maximum extent reached was 5.89m square miles on 31 March. This was 250,000 square miles less than the 1979 to 2000 average for March, when measurements were taken for winter sea ice.

As compared to the last year's previous record low, there had been some recovery in the amount of ice that was two or more years old, revealed NSIDC.

The spread of the ice was still low as compared to past decades. Walt Meier, a research scientist at NSIDC said, "I think it's the sixth or seventh lowest maximum out of the previous 32 years".

Meier shared that this year was also expected to be low, depending on temperatures and winds which blow the ice around. Sometimes these winds blow the ice out of the Arctic Sea into the warmer Atlantic and Pacific currents.

Meier said, "I would say [it's going to be] low, perhaps one of the lowest, but not approaching 2007. Given the amount of thin ice we know we're going to be low, it's just a matter of how low".