Our Research

With the generous support of the Climate Science and Communication Fund from Surge Climate Talent, NSIDC’s Ice Sheets and Sea Ice News and Analysis (ISSINA) is able to start up monthly science assessments for the Sea Ice Today site.

Snow-covered area across the western United States was 49 percent of average for May, ranking last in the 26-year satellite record. Snow water equivalent remained well below average in most states during May, confirming a worrisome outlook for the summer.

Snow-covered area in April across the western United States was 41 percent of average, at 118,00 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of snow cover, ranking last in the 26-year satellite record. Snow water equivalent (SWE) remained well below average in most states during April.

Snow Today has expanded spatial coverage from the western US and New Zealand to now include Alaska and four Canadian provinces: Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta. Snow-covered area in March averaged across the western United States was 34 percent of average, at 209,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles) of snow cover, ranking last in the 26-year satellite record. Snow water equivalent (SWE) decreased in all western states except Montana and Washington. 

Since its inception, the Arctic Report Card has relied upon NSIDC scientists as authors and/or editors nearly every year, and incorporated NSIDC data in every single issue.