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As climate changes, how do Earth's frozen areas affect our planet and impact society?
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![Martian North Pole Martian North Pole](/sites/default/files/styles/content_wwo_desktop/public/images/mars_rs_1.jpg.webp?itok=4js5Nlv8)
Feature Story
Through a three-year NASA grant, NSIDC researcher Lora Koenig is analyzing how well the satellites orbiting Mars are picking up on various layers within the Martian ice on its North Pole. The best way to know if things are working properly there is to test them here on Earth.
![In this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) true color image, remnants of Hurricane Irma pass over southeastern United States. Meanwhile, a warm air mass south of Greenland is causing surface air temperatures to rise. In this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) true color image, remnants of Hurricane Irma pass over southeastern United States. Meanwhile, a warm air mass south of Greenland is causing surface air temperatures to rise.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_wwo_desktop/public/images/Other/hurricanes.png.webp?itok=5jDfabNJ)
Ice Sheet Analysis
Surface melt spiked in mid-September in southern Greenland. A surge of warm air from the central Atlantic fueled the late melt event, which was confined to the southwestern and southeastern coasts and peaked on September 15, 2017.
![Images of fieldwork on Greenland ice sheet in August 2017 Images of fieldwork on Greenland ice sheet in August 2017](/sites/default/files/styles/content_wwo_desktop/public/images/Other/Fig4_FieldWork.png.webp?itok=eccQVXvU)
Ice Sheet Analysis
Extensive and persistent melt in northern Greenland characterized late July to early August. A brief high pressure pattern centered on the west coast led to similar conditions that made 2015 a record melt year for the ice sheet's northern sections.
![rtn_235614_3 rtn_235614_3](/sites/default/files/styles/content_wwo_desktop/public/images/rtn_235614_3.jpg.webp?itok=rK_m6pkh)
Feature Story
NASA joined with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to deliver data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) spacecraft. Launched in 2011, NPP carries the replacement for MODIS: the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
![Change in ice thickness maps created with a climate model simulating surface mass balance departure from average for Greenland as of June 27, 2017 Change in ice thickness maps created with a climate model simulating surface mass balance departure from average for Greenland as of June 27, 2017](/sites/default/files/styles/content_wwo_desktop/public/images/Other/Fig4ab_SMB_marXFettweis_adj.png.webp?itok=bYGODcM0)
Ice Sheet Analysis
Despite moderately higher-than-average air temperatures and high air pressure over Greenland, the 2017 melt season began modestly. As of June 30, total melt area was the lowest since the 2009 melt season.