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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Analysis - Sea Ice Today
While global air temperatures were at or near record highs for June, July, and August, the summer was cool and stormy over the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic sea ice minimum extent tied for tenth lowest on the satellite record with 2008, 2010, and 2025, with a loose ice pack on the Atlantic side extending to the pole. However, the post-minimum freeze up has been rapid. Antarctic sea ice extent, which reached its maximum on September 14, dropped sharply through September, hitting record low daily extents since October 2.
Feature Story
Data are not simply a means to monitor change, but an objective method to prepare for not only different storms, but as sea levels rise, a different topography. With that in mind, communities and governments around the globe may increasingly need to plan for relocation rather than assume rebuilding in place is viable. But Alaska’s threatened communities demonstrate the challenges of relocation.
Feature Story
NSIDC has observed and documented many changes in Earth’s frozen regions. Here is a selection of some of the more eye-catching observations.
News Release
Arctic sea ice likely reached its minimum extent for the year, at 4.60 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles) on September 12, 2026. In the Antarctic, sea ice extent has been tracking near record low levels for most of the growth season, most likely reaching its maximum extent on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometers (6.79 million square miles). If this maximum date holds, this will be the third lowest Antarctic sea ice maximum on record.
Analysis - Sea Ice Today
On September 12, Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent of 4.60 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles). The 2026 minimum shares the tenth lowest spot in the nearly 48-year satellite record with 2008, 2010, and 2025. The last 20 years, from 2007 to 2026, are the lowest 20 sea ice extents in the satellite record. In the Antarctic, sea ice extent most likely reached its maximum extent on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometers (6.79 million square miles). If this maximum date holds, this will be the third lowest Antarctic sea ice maximum on record.
Feature Story
NSIDC celebrates 50 years in operation as of September 2026. In 1976, the United States celebrated its bicentennial, disco topped the charts, and no one had yet seen a Star Wars movie. That same year, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) opened its doors.