Very old ice—thick, strong, and more melt-resistant—has nearly vanished in the Arctic. In March 2017, it made up less than 1 percent of the ice pack.
Despite being at opposite points of the annual cycle, the Arctic and Antarctic had something in common in March 2017: record-low sea ice extents.
Northwest Passage clear of ice again in 2016
September 16, 2016
The 2016 winter maximum sea ice extent in the Arctic edged out 2015 to a set a new record low.
Where, oh where, has Alaska’s winter gone?
March 11, 2016
Walruses use sea ice for mating, giving birth, and resting, which means they face an increasing threat from global warming.
Arctic sea ice extent reached 5.61 million square miles on February 25, and then began to retreat. Unless a late growth spurt takes place, it will be the smallest winter maximum in the satellite record.
NASA ice expert Claire Parkinson confirms that global sea ice coverage has continued its overall downward trend since her original analysis was published in 2015.
The Arctic's oldest ice is vanishing
December 13, 2016
The latest installment of NOAA's Arctic Report Card confirms that Arctic air temperatures are rising at more than twice the rate of the planet as a whole. This collection of images highlights some of the key changes in physical and biological conditions in the Far North.