Sea Ice Today - National Snow and Ice Data Center
2024年11月4日 · The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on the planet, and as a result, sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is decreasing. Sea ice loss has far-reaching effects on the planet because the ice helps regulate Earth’s climate, influences global weather patterns, and affects ocean circulations.
Science of Sea Ice - National Snow and Ice Data Center
Sea ice typically drifts around the Arctic with prevailing winds and ocean currents, and sea ice exits the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait. As ice thins, its speed increases, transporting more ice through the Strait, which results in more multiyear ice …
Quick Facts About Sea Ice | National Snow and Ice Data Center
A polar bear walks on brittle sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. — Credit: US Geological Survey Why is sea ice important? Sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate global climate. Sea ice has a much brighter surface compared to many other Earth surfaces, particularly the surrounding ocean.
Charctic Interactive Sea Ice Graph - National Snow and Ice Data …
Visualize sea ice extent (area of ocean with at least 15 percent sea ice concentration) data for the Arctic and Antarctic. View and compare sea ice extent data for any year or any combination of years from 1979 to present (including near-real-time daily data).
Sea Ice Today - Maps | National Snow and Ice Data Center
Sea ice differs between the Arctic and Antarctic, primarily because of their different geographies. The Arctic is a semi-enclosed ocean, almost completely surrounded by land. As a result, the sea ice that forms in the Arctic is not as mobile as sea ice in the Antarctic.
Sea Ice - National Snow and Ice Data Center
Sea ice differs between the Arctic and Antarctic, primarily because of their different geographies. The Arctic is a semi-enclosed ocean, almost completely surrounded by land. As a result, the sea ice that forms in the Arctic is not as mobile as sea ice in the Antarctic.
Why Sea Ice Matters - National Snow and Ice Data Center
The presence or absence of sea ice directly affects Arctic operations. While most of the Arctic is covered with perennial (year-round) sea ice, the Arctic Ocean is still a strategic sea route, for both commerce and the military. The Arctic Ocean provides …
What do scientists mean by “ice-free Arctic”? - National Snow and ...
2023年10月23日 · A consensus has emerged among scientists that the Arctic Ocean is effectively ice free when its sea ice extent falls below 1 million square kilometers (390,000 square miles). The term “ice-free” is based on a threshold for sea ice extent: the area of ocean with at least 15 percent sea ice concentration.
Arctic sea ice: Walking on sunshine - National Snow and Ice Data …
2024年4月23日 · The atmospheric circulation pattern for March 2024 featured a strong pressure gradient across Fram Strait, likely promoting strong winds from the north and therefore strong sea ice export out of the Arctic. An update on sea ice age reveals continued scarcity of …
The race to the bottom | National Snow and Ice Data Center - NSIDC
2024年9月4日 · Arctic sea ice extent for August 2024 averaged 5.21 million square kilometers (2.01 million square miles), also the fourth lowest in the passive microwave satellite record (Figures 1a and 1b).