Images related to Sea Ice Ebbs and Flows

Antarctic Sea Ice Reaches New Maximum Extent
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Antarctic Sea Ice Reaches New Maximum Extent

As the Arctic experienced a new record summer minimum for ice extent, the Antarctic set a new record for maximum winter sea ice.

Published Oct 11, 2012

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A Tale of Two Poles
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A Tale of Two Poles

The 2014 arctic sea ice minimum is the sixth lowest on record, while antarctic sea ice continues to exceed the record maximum extent.

Published Sep 24, 2014

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Despite Antarctic Gains, Global Sea Ice Is Shrinking
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Despite Antarctic Gains, Global Sea Ice Is Shrinking

Due to accelerated Arctic losses, Earth has been shedding sea ice since 1979 at an annual rate of 35,000 square kilometers (13,500 square miles).

Published Feb 11, 2015

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South Pole Sea Ice at 2008 Maximum and 2009 Minimum
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South Pole Sea Ice at 2008 Maximum and 2009 Minimum

This pair of images shows Antarctic sea ice concentrations at the 2008 winter maximum and the 2009 summer minimum compared to the median ice extent from 1979–2000.

Published May 23, 2009

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Melting Woes: Antarctic Sea Ice at Record Lows
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Melting Woes: Antarctic Sea Ice at Record Lows

Shifting winds and warm air temperatures contributed to the record-low extent of sea ice around Antarctica in November.

Published Dec 16, 2016

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Antarctic Sea Ice
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Antarctic Sea Ice

On February 24, 2008—late summer in the Southern Hemisphere—the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of lingering sea ice in the Southern Ocean.

Published Feb 28, 2008

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Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Ties Second Lowest on Record
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Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Ties Second Lowest on Record

Since satellites began monitoring sea ice in 1979, researchers have observed a decline in the average extent of Arctic sea ice in every month of the year.

Published Sep 16, 2016

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Arctic Sea Ice Maximum 2012
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Arctic Sea Ice Maximum 2012

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.

Published Mar 27, 2012

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Sea Ice in the Bellingshausen Sea
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Sea Ice in the Bellingshausen Sea

A spectacular view of sea ice was captured during an Operation IceBridge flight in 2014; the mission surveyed ice at both poles again in 2015, this time simultaneously.

Published Oct 4, 2015

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Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2018 Minimum
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Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2018 Minimum

The ice cap tied for the sixth lowest extent on record, continuing a long-term decline.

Published Sep 28, 2018

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2019 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Is Second Lowest
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2019 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Is Second Lowest

The long-term trend for Arctic sea ice extent has been definitively downward.

Published Sep 23, 2019

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Polar Sea Ice at Record Lows
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Polar Sea Ice at Record Lows

In 2017, the Arctic maximum and Antarctic minimum extents of sea ice plunged to record lows.

Published Mar 23, 2017

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Arctic Sea Ice, 2002-2003
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Arctic Sea Ice, 2002-2003

Compiled from passive microwave sensor data, these images show Arctic sea ice extent for September 2002 and March 2003.

Published May 16, 2009

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Arctic Sea Ice
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Arctic Sea Ice

Sea ice naturally grows and melts each year, but the process has been more extreme in recent years.

Published May 3, 2011

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Approaching the 2011 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum
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Approaching the 2011 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum

This animation shows Arctic sea ice shrinking to a near record minimum in the summer of 2011.

Published Sep 22, 2011

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North Pole Sea Ice Minimum 2009
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North Pole Sea Ice Minimum 2009

On September 12, 2009, sea ice reached its annual minimum extent, covering 5.10 million square kilometers (2.97 million square miles) of the Arctic Ocean. This image shows the 2009 ice extent compared to the 1979-2000 average.

Published Sep 19, 2009

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