News & Stories
As Earth’s frozen regions change rapidly, NSIDC is committed to growing its research and open access data to better understand these changes. Read about NSIDC research and its contribution to science and policy making. Check out spotlights on how to use NSIDC data, tools, and resources. Learn about how we steward data and collaborate with scientists and organizations across the world to understand how the frozen parts of Earth affect the rest of the planet and impact society.
News and stories
Besides occurring on the opposite side of the globe, Antarctic sea ice differs from Arctic sea ice in a couple of respects.
By early January 2022, Arctic sea ice extent, while well below average, was within the lowest decile of recorded extents of the 1981 to 2010 reference period.
A tipping point is a critical threshold where an incremental change could push a system over the edge to a new state. Two types of tipping points exist. One involves a rapid transition, like what happens when a canoe rocks back and forth.
Satellites have continuously monitored Earth’s polar regions since November 1978. Over that period, Arctic sea ice has declined.
Climate models, also known as general circulation models or GCMs, use computers to simulate Earth’s climate.
Sea ice extent increased at a faster than average pace through November and by the end of the month, extent was just within the interdecile range.