The seasonal freeze-up in the Arctic Ocean and neighboring seas has been very slow, setting both daily and monthly record lows.
Image of the Day Snow and Ice
This image shows average Arctic sea ice concentration for January 2011, the lowest January extent in the satellite record.
Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice
The Arctic ice cap grew less this winter than at any time since satellites have measured it.
The ice cap tied for the sixth lowest extent on record, continuing a long-term decline.
Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Sea and Lake Ice
Sea ice extent for January 2016 was one of the lowest on record since space-based observations began in 1978.
Record-low sea ice in July 2020 could be further depleted by a low-pressure system that developed over the Arctic Ocean.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Sea and Lake Ice
Arctic sea ice has been retreating the fastest in the Beaufort Sea.
Image of the Day Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
The 2014 arctic sea ice minimum is the sixth lowest on record, while antarctic sea ice continues to exceed the record maximum extent.
Image of the Day Heat Water Snow and Ice
The structure that prevents sea ice from exiting the Arctic Ocean through the Nares Strait crumbled months earlier than usual.
As Arctic sea ice extent shrinks each year, ships are cruising farther north.
Image of the Day Water Human Presence Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
The Arctic sea ice extent continues its long-term downward trend.
Image of the Day Heat Land Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Sea and Lake Ice
The extent of Arctic sea ice peaked at 15.24 million square kilometers on March 18, 2012. It was the ninth consecutive year of maximum extents below the long-term average.
The amount of Arctic Ocean covered by ice was significantly more than the record low of 2012, but still well below the long-term average.
Image of the Day Snow and Ice Sea and Lake Ice
On August 26, 2012, Arctic sea ice broke all previous records weeks ahead of the end of melt season.