http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/index.html Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis: Year-round updates on sea ice conditions Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:30:00 MST http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/030310.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/030310.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:30:00 MST The Arctic Oscillation dipped back into negative territory and remained negative through February, bringing warm temperatures to the Arctic but slowing ice movement. Antarctic sea ice hit its minimum extent. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/020310.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/020310.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:30:00 MST Despite cool temperatures over most of the Arctic Ocean in January, Arctic sea ice extent continued to track below normal. By the end of January, ice extent dropped below the extent observed in January 2007. Ice extent was unusually low in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic, the one major area of the Arctic where temperatures remained warmer than normal. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/010510.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2010/010510.html Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent at end of December 2009 remained below normal, primarily in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic. Average air temperatures over the Arctic Ocean were much higher than normal for the month, reflecting unusual atmospheric conditions. Also, a review of 2009 Arctic sea ice conditions. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/120709.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/120709.html Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:00:00 MST In November, the average rate of Arctic sea ice growth slightly exceeded the 1979 to 2000 average growth rate for the month. However, at the end of the month, some regions, in particular the Barents Sea and Hudson Bay, still had much less ice cover than normal. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/110309.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/110309.html Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:00:00 MST Sea ice extent grew throughout October, as the temperature dropped and darkness returned to the Arctic. However, a period of relatively slow ice growth early in the month kept the average ice extent low http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/100609.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/100609.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:30:00 MDT At the end of the Arctic summer, more ice cover remained this year than during the previous record-setting low years of 2007 and 2008. However, sea ice has not recovered to previous levels. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/091709.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/091709.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:30:00 MDT Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its lowest extent for 2009. This year's minimum is the third-lowest extent since the start of satellite measurements in 1979. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/090809.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/090809.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:00:00 MDT Atmospheric circulation patterns in August helped spread out sea ice, slowing ice loss in most regions of the Arctic. Despite slower rate of ice loss this month, ice extent has reached the third-lowest extent in the satellite record. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/081809.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/081809.html Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:30:00 MDT During the first half of August, Arctic ice extent declined more slowly because of a change in atmospheric conditions. It is now unlikely that 2009 will see a record low extent, but the minimum summer ice extent will still be much lower than the 1979 to 2000 average. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/080409.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/080409.html Tue, 4 Aug 2009 13:00:00 MDT Arctic sea ice extent for the month of July was the third lowest for that month in the satellite record, after 2007 and 2006. The average rate of melt in July 2009 was nearly identical to that of July 2007. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/072209.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/072209.html Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 MDT During the first half of July, Arctic sea ice extent declined more quickly than in 2008, but not as fast as in 2007. As in recent years, melt onset was earlier than the 1979 to 2000 average. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/070609.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/070609.html Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 MDT The Arctic is now in the midst of the summer melt season. During June, warm temperatures and southerly winds led to quickly declining ice concentration in some regions, and an atmospheric circulation pattern set up that looks similar to summer 2007. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/060309.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/060309.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:00:00 MDT After a slow start to the melt season, ice extent declined quickly in May. Scientists are monitoring the ice pack for signs of what will come this summer. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/060209.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/060209.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:30:00 MDT NSIDC has transitioned from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 satellite, to the DMSP F17 satellite. Daily image updates of Arctic sea ice extent are again available. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/050409.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/050409.html Mon, 04 May 2009 11:00:00 MDT Arctic sea ice extent declined quite slowly in April; as a result, total ice extent is now close to the mean extent for the 1979 to 2000 reference period. The thin spring ice cover nevertheless remains vulnerable to summer melt. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/040609.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/040609.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 MDT Arctic sea ice extent has begun its seasonal decline towards the September minimum. Ice extent through the winter was similar to that of recent years, but lower than the 1979 to 2000 average. More importantly, the melt season has begun with a substantial amount of thin first-year ice, which is vulnerable to summer melt. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/033009.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/033009.html Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent reached its maximum extent for the year on February 28. This year’s maximum was the fifth lowest in the satellite record. NSIDC will release a more detailed analysis of winter sea ice conditions during the second week of April. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/030309.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/030309.html Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent continued to increase through the month of February, as it approaches its annual maximum. Ice extent averaged for February 2009 is the fourth lowest February in the satellite record. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/022609.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/022609.html Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:00:00 MST Near-real-time sea ice data image updates are again available. We have switched to the SSMI Sensor on the DMSP F13 Satellite. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/021809.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/021809.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:00:00 MST NSIDC has discovered a significant problem with the daily sea ice data images. The problem arose from a malfunction of the satellite sensor we use for our daily sea ice products. We have removed the most recent data and are investigating alternative data sources that will provide correct results. It is not clear when we will have data back online, but we are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/020309.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/020309.html Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:00:00 MST As is typical during mid-winter, sea ice extent increased overall in January; maximum extent is expected in March. However, January ice extent remained well below normal compared to the long-term record. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/010709.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/010709.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:00:00 MST In this month's entry, we offer a review of the 2008 year in Arctic sea ice. We also discuss the noticeable pause in ice growth from December 12 to 19, apparently caused by an anomalous atmospheric pressure pattern combined with unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the Barents Sea. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/120308.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/120308.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:00:00 MST The period of very rapid ice growth that characterized October and early November has ended. Air temperatures over the Arctic Ocean stayed well above average during November, partly because of continued heat release from the ocean to the atmosphere and partly because of a pattern of atmospheric circulation transporting warm air into the region. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/111008.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/111008.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:00 MST As is normal for this time of year, ice extent increased sharply through most of October. However, this year, the increase was particularly fast, which contributed to above-average air temperatures near the surface. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/100208.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/100208.html Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:00:00 MST Arctic Sea Ice Down to Second-Lowest Extent and Likely Record-Low Volume Despite cooler temperatures and ice-favoring conditions, the long-term decline continues. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/092408.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/092408.html Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent, after reaching its seasonal minimum last week, has begun its annual cyclical increase in response to the setting sun. A cooler melt season, retention of first-year ice, and dispersive ice motion set the 2008 melt season apart from 2007. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/091608.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/091608.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:15:00 MST The Arctic sea ice cover appears to have reached its minimum extent for the year. The near-record low reinforces the strong negative trend observed over the past thirty years. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/090408.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/090408.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:00 MST Following a record rate of ice loss through the month of August, Arctic sea ice extent already stands as the second-lowest on record, further reinforcing conclusions that the Arctic sea ice cover is in a long-term state of decline. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/082608.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/082608.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:15:00 MST Sea ice extent has fallen below the 2005 minimum, the second-lowest extent recorded since the dawn of the satellite era. Update: Numbers available. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/082508.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/082508.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:00 MST Sea ice extent is declining at a fairly brisk and steady pace. Surface melt has mostly ended, but the decline will continue for two to three more weeks. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/081108.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/081108.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 MST The pace of sea ice loss sharply quickened in the past ten days, triggered by a series of strong storms that broke up thin ice in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/080108.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/080108.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:00:00 MST The Arctic sea ice is now at the peak of the melt season. Although ice extent is below average, it seems less likely that extent will approach last year’s record low. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/071708.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/071708.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent on July 16 fell roughly between the extent for the same day in 2007 and the long-term average. The spatial pattern of summer ice loss has evolved differently from last year; this reflects the prevailing pattern of atmospheric circulation http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/070208.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/070208.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent for June 2008 is close to that for 2007, which went on to reach the lowest minimum since at least 1979. More notably, however, satellite data indicate that melt began significantly earlier than last year over most of the Arctic Ocean. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/060308.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/060308.html Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:00 MST Arctic sea ice extent has declined through the month of May as summer approaches. Daily ice extents in May continued to be below the long-term average and approached the low levels seen at this time last year. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/050508.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/050508.html Mon, 05 May 2008 08:00:00 MST April extent has not fallen below the lowest April extent on record, but it is still below the long-term average. An assessment of the available evidence points to another extreme September sea ice minimum. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/040708.html http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2008/040708.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MST The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has launched Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis. The site provides year-round monthly updates on Arctic sea ice conditions; the April 7 entry details maximum sea ice extent and conditions as we enter the melt season.