Sea Ice Today

Analyses and daily images of sea ice conditions

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September 4, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Record ice loss in August

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

August 26, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Arctic sea ice now second-lowest on record

Sea ice extent has fallen below the 2005 minimum, previously the second-lowest extent recorded since the dawn of the satellite era. Will 2008 also break the standing record low, set in 2007? We will know in the next several weeks, when the melt season comes to a close. The bottom line, however, is that the strong negative trend in summertime ice extent characterizing the past decade continues.

August 25, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Arctic shortcuts open up; decline pace steady

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 because of melt from the bottom and sides of the ice. Amundsen’s Northwest Passage is now navigable; the wider, deeper Northwest Passage through Parry Channel may also open in a matter of days.

August 25, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Sea ice decline accelerates, Amundsen’s Northwest Passage opens

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.

Passive-microwave satellite data showing ice concentration on August 10, 2008.

August 1, 2008

Arctic

Race between waning sunlight and thin ice

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.

July 17, 2008

Arctic

A different pattern of sea ice retreat

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. Areas of low-concentration ice are also developing at unusually high latitudes.

July 2, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Melt onset earlier than normal

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.

June 3, 2008

Antarctica

Arctic

Arctic sea ice still on track for extreme melt

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.

May 5, 2008

Arctic

Arctic sea ice forecasts point to lower-than-average season ahead

Spring has arrived in the Arctic. After peaking at 15.21 million square kilometers (5.87 million square miles) in the second week of March, Arctic sea ice extent has declined through the month of April.

April 7, 2008

Arctic

Arctic sea ice extent at maximum below average, thin

Arctic sea ice reached its yearly maximum extent during the second week of March, 2008. Maximum extent was slightly greater compared to recent years, but was still well below average.

October 17, 2007

Arctic

Arctic Sea Ice News Fall 2007

From August 10, 2007, through the end of the summer melt season, we posted updates on Arctic sea ice conditions, below. To view previous updates, scroll down to a particular date.

October 3, 2006

Arctic

Arctic Sea Ice News Fall 2006

This article includes all our analyses of Arctic sea ice conditions from August 23, 2006 through October 3, 2006.