national snow and ice data center Archives

13th Consecutive Year of Record Low Arctic Sea Ice Winter Maximums

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Andrew Burger | 2 Comments

Spanning 14.52 million square kilometers ( 5.61 square miles) as of March 24, 2015’s winter maximum was reached 12 days later than the average from 1981-2010. A late season surge is still possible, the National Snow & Ice Data Center noted, adding that it will post a detailed analysis of Arctic winter sea ice conditions in late April.

Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Reaches Lowest Extent on Record

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

Preliminary analysis from the National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado shows that Arctic sea ice likely reached its seasonal maximum on February 25th. At 5.61 million square miles (14.54 million square kilometers) the expected maximum ice extent is the lowest in the satellite record. The maximum extent for 2015 is 425,000 sq. miles (1.10 sq. kilometers)…

Extreme Weather, Climate Controversy Set the Political Stage

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Andrew Burger | 0 Comments

The flow of news and developments directly and indirectly related to climate change has been fast and strong this past couple of weeks as government leaders in the U.S. and around the world prepare for U.N. climate treaty talks in Paris.

The world faces serious implications from the rapidly declining Arctic Sea Ice

EarthTalk: Implications of Declining Arctic Sea Ice

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Earth Talk | 0 Comments

EarthTalk® is a weekly environmental column made available to our readers from the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I heard that the Arctic summer sea ice is at its lowest level since we began recording it. What are the implications of all this melting? — Jo Shoemaker, Bowie, MD It is true that on September 16, 2012…

Video Friday: Arctic Sea Ice 2012

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

“I would almost argue that we might be entering into a new climate state…” -Dr. Julienne Stroeve – National Snow and Ice Data Center Following up on our Arctic sea ice update from last Wednesday, this video from Peter Sinclair and the Yale Forum on Climate Change & the Media features commentary and analysis from expert scientists on the lowest extent…

Arctic Sea Ice Update

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), as of September 16 Arctic sea ice reached its seasonal minimum for the year at 1.32 million square miles (3.41 million square kilometers), the minimum seasonal extent in the satellite record that began in 1979. NSIDC cautioned that changing wind patterns over the next few weeks could push the minimum…

Arctic Sea Ice Hits Record Retreat for June

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

A rapid decline for Arctic sea ice extent briefly hit daily record lows in June, led by extensive ice loss in the Bering, Kara, and Beaufort Seas, as well as Hudson and Baffin Bay. Snow extent was unusually low for both May and June, reinforcing the continuing pattern of rapid spring snow melt of the past six years. Average Arctic sea ice…