Images related to Despite Antarctic Gains, Global Sea Ice Is Shrinking

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

This map shows sea ice extent around Antarctica on September 22, 2013, when ice covered more of the Southern Ocean than at any other time in the satellite record.

Published Oct 1, 2013

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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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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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2015 Antarctic Sea Ice Extent
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2015 Antarctic Sea Ice Extent

In 2015, the annual maximum extent of Antarctic sea ice dropped below previous consecutive years of record highs.

Published Oct 18, 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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Sea Ice Ebbs and Flows
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Sea Ice Ebbs and Flows

These satellite-based maps show sea ice concentration in the Arctic and Antarctic during September 2008 and February 2009, the months of the sea ice maximums and minimums in the respective hemispheres.

Published Apr 21, 2009

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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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Visualizing the 2012 Sea Ice Minimum
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Visualizing the 2012 Sea Ice Minimum

These maps compare Arctic sea ice minimum extents in 1984 (a year with average coverage) and 2012 (the new record low).

Published Sep 27, 2012

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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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Arctic Sea Ice Extent, 2009-2010
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Arctic Sea Ice Extent, 2009-2010

These images show Arctic sea ice extent for the September 2009 summer minimum and the March 2010 winter maximum. Ice extents were greater than they had been in many recent years, but were still below the long-term average.

Published Apr 23, 2010

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Sea Ice Below Normal Despite a Seasonal Bump
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Sea Ice Below Normal Despite a Seasonal Bump

Slight recoveries in the extent of sea ice at both poles were not enough to return to long-term normal levels.

Published Mar 24, 2020

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2011 Sea Ice Minimum
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2011 Sea Ice Minimum

In September 2011, the extent of sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean declined to the second-lowest extent on record.

Published Oct 5, 2011

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2013 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum
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2013 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum

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.

Published Sep 21, 2013

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Arctic Sea Ice Drops below 2007 Record
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Arctic Sea Ice Drops below 2007 Record

On August 26, 2012, Arctic sea ice broke all previous records weeks ahead of the end of melt season.

Published Aug 28, 2012

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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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