Sea Ice Today
Analyses
n November, the average rate of Arctic sea ice growth slightly exceeded the 1979 to 2000 average growth rate for the month.
Sea ice extent grew throughout October, as the temperature dropped and darkness returned to the Arctic.
Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its minimum extent for the year, the third-lowest extent since the start of satellite measurements in 1979.
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During the first half of August, Arctic ice extent declined more slowly than during the same period in 2007 and 2008.
Arctic sea ice extent for the month of July was the third lowest for that month in the satellite record, after 2007 and 2006.
During the first half of July, Arctic sea ice extent declined more quickly than in 2008, but not as fast as in 2007. As in recent years, melt onset was earlier than the 1979 to 2000 average.
The Arctic is now in the midst of the summer melt season. Through most of June, ice extent tracked below the 1979 to 2000 average, and slightly above the levels recorded during June 2007.
After a slow start to the melt season, ice extent declined quickly in May. Scientists are monitoring the ice pack for signs of what will come this summer.
NSIDC has transitioned from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 satellite, to the DMSP F17 satellite. Switching to the new satellite will allow us to continue our consistent long-term record of sea ice extent.
Arctic sea ice extent declined quite slowly in April; as a result, total ice extent is now close to the mean extent for the reference period (1979 to 2000). The thin spring ice cover nevertheless remains vulnerable to summer melt.
Arctic sea ice extent has begun its seasonal decline towards the September minimum. Ice extent through the winter was similar to that of recent years, but lower than the 1979 to 2000 average.
Arctic sea ice extent reached its maximum extent for the year, marking the beginning of the melt season. This year’s maximum was the fifth lowest in the satellite record.
Arctic sea ice extent continued to increase through the month of February, as it approaches its annual maximum. Ice extent averaged for February 2009 is the fourth-lowest February in the satellite record.
Near-real-time sea ice data updates are again available from Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis.
As some of our readers have already noticed, there was a significant problem with the daily sea ice data images on February 16.
As is typical during mid-winter, sea ice extent increased overall in January; maximum monthly extent is expected in March. However, January ice extent remained well below normal compared to the long-term record.
In this month’s entry, we offer a review of the 2008 year in Arctic sea ice.