News & Stories

Across the globe, snow and ice play a vital role in regulating Earth’s climate and providing freshwater resources to people, plants, and animals.

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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.

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This aerial photograph shows a meltwater lake on the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet near Illulissat, Greenland.

About the Greenland Ice Sheet

Analysis - Ice Sheets Today

Greenland Ice Sheet Today offers the latest satellite data on surface melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Surface melt on the ice sheet results from daily weather conditions that are driven by air temperatures, winds, and feedback effect from

Arctic rapidly gaining winter ice

Analysis - Sea Ice Today

Ice extent doubled in October. The rate of increase since the 2012 minimum was near record, resulting in an October monthly extent 230,000 square kilometers (88,800 square miles) greater than the previous low for the month, which occurred in 2007. Despite this rapid growth, ice extent remains far below normal as we begin November.

Newest eye on the cryosphere

Spotlight

Perhaps the longest and most consistent series of satellites is Landsat, and early next year a new Landsat will fly. This new eye in the sky promises not just to keep the record going, but to provide more detail on Earth’s forests, oceans, croplands, savannahs, snow, ice, and more.

Open water means a warm Arctic

Analysis - Sea Ice Today

Autumn over the Arctic Ocean is a season of falling temperatures and rapid growth of sea ice.