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
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has launched an upgraded and streamlined Sea Ice Today website. The new site replaces the Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis (ASINA) website but continues the NASA-funded work on near-real-time assessments, daily data images, and monthly analyses on sea ice conditions that began in 2007.
Analysis - Sea Ice Today
Arctic sea ice continued the fast retreat that was observed in July through August 10, followed by a brief slowdown, only to pick up pace again. During the first half of August, the ice primarily retreated in the northern Beaufort Sea and in the East Siberian Sea.
Analysis - Ice Sheets Today
The 2024 melt season for the Greenland Ice Sheet is above the 1991 to 2020 average, but the total number of melt days and peak melt area for Greenland are within the midrange of the last 24 years.
Feature Story
From 2007 to 2022, renowned photographer James Balog documented glacial change around the world through a project called the Extreme Ice Survey. One and a half million images showcasing climate change in real time are now stored and managed at the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Analysis - Sea Ice Today
Arctic sea ice cover retreated rapidly in July 2024, pushing the daily ice extent at the end of the month to the third lowest in the 46-year satellite record.
Spotlight
An exciting new addition has arrived to the NSIDC.org website, allowing users to better explore community-based observations of the Arctic.