News & Stories

Across the globe, snow and ice play a vital role in regulating Earth’s climate and providing freshwater resources to people, plants, and animals.

As Earth’s frozen regions change rapidly, NSIDC is committed to growing its research and open access data to better understand these changes. Read about NSIDC research and its contribution to science and policy making. Check out spotlights on how to use NSIDC data, tools, and resources. Learn about how we steward data and collaborate with scientists and organizations across the world to understand how the frozen parts of Earth affect the rest of the planet and impact society.

News and stories

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Tokcha Khudi stands among a reindeer herd
Feature Story
The Arctic Rain on Snow Study (AROSS) project, led by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), funded an award-winning StoryMap called "When Rains Fell in Winter," which tells the story of a Nenets reindeer herder named Tokcha Khudi and how a catastrophic rain-on-snow event impacted his annual migration on the Yamal Peninsula in 2013.
NASA Antarctica blue marble image 2.20.24
News Release
Antarctic sea ice has likely reached its minimum extent for the year, at 1.99 million square kilometers (768,000 square miles) on February 20, 2024, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The 2024 minimum is tied with 2022 for second lowest in the 46-year satellite record. The record low occurred last year, with the ice reaching 1.79 million square kilometers (691,000 square miles) on February 21, 2023.
Crane Glaciers
Ice Sheet Analysis
Ice sheet surface melt on the Antarctic Peninsula abruptly dropped in mid-January and remained low through February 15. By contrast, melt day totals for the season were above average for the northern Larsen C and George VI Ice Shelves.
Aerial photo of Karakoram glaciers
Ask a Scientist
Most mountain glaciers outside the polar regions are losing ice, but in the Karakoram Range, glaciers have experienced modest gains. Glaciologists have proposed multiple explanations, currently favoring weather patterns unique to the region. Glaciologists have also pondered how long the anomaly is likely to persist in a warming climate.
Antarctic Peninsula
Ice Sheet Analysis
With the melt season well underway in the Southern Hemisphere, several ice shelves extending from the Antarctic Ice Sheet show above average melting, with significant melting in the Antarctic Peninsula region.
QGreenland website logo
Spotlight
QGreenland is a free mapping tool supported by video tutorials, complete documentation, and a website to help you to get started and continue your learning. The project now boasts a new product release, a revamped website, and funding for enhanced data sharing and interoperability.