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Even though no new record low was reached this year, the sea-ice extent consistently lies at the lower end of the range of values observed between 1981 and 2010 (Figure 1). Based on the monthly mean v

The Arctic Ocean spans roughly 14 million square kilometers - about half the area of Africa – and is, at least partly, covered by sea-ice year-round. This ice cover plays a fundamental role in the Ear

If it doesn’t melt in summer, Arctic pack ice can survive for several years. Especially in the coastal regions of Canada, you can still find ice that’s at least four years old (see figures). In the co

In October 2024, the mean sea-ice extent in the Arctic Ocean was ca. 6.11 million square kilometres – the fourth-lowest mean value since the beginning of satellite observations. A collection of compar

During this year’s southern winter, the sea ice in the Antarctic covered a maximum area of 17.34 million square kilometres – only 180,000 square kilometres more than the all-time low in 2023. There ar

Development in the Arctic The slight upward trend following the Arctic minimum continued in early 2024; although the sea-ice extent was below the mean value for the years 1981 – 2010 at the beginning

The sea ice in the polar regions is an important indicator for global climate change, as the two regions are essentially our planet’s early warning system. The loss of sea ice is a direct effect of gl

The Arctic sea ice is currently below the levels seen in 2022 but clearly above the record minimum from 2012. Every September, the Arctic sea-ice extent reaches its annual minimum. On 7 September the

Relevance of melt ponds In the Arctic summer, the sea ice melts due to rising temperatures and constant sunlight. When it does, meltwater can gather in pools on the surface, known as melt ponds. These