Flying long, aerial transects over the center of a sea ice pack rendered nearly featureless by snow can get a bit monotonous. But when NASA's Operation IceBridge aircraft travels along the varied margins of the ice, even seasoned researchers take a break from monitoring their instruments to steal a quick view of the icescape below. With its radar and laser data, Operation IceBridge is working to extend the long-term record of how ice at the poles is changing from year to year. During spring in Antarctica, the environment constantly shapes the sea ice that surrounds the continent. Ice thaws back into the water when temperatures warm, freezes into new layers when cold, and splinters, crashes and rafts on top of itself when pushed by winds and ocean currents. Watch the video to explore the different types of sea ice seen by Operation IceBridge during its 2012 Antarctic campaign.