Sea Ice Minimum Concentration 3-year moving averages for 1979-1981 to 2003-2005

An animation of the annual Arctic sea ice minimum with a graph overlay showing the area of the minimum sea ice in millions of square kilometers.This video is also available on our YouTube channel. || Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the Arctic ice since 1979. Every summer the Arctic ice cap melts down to what scientists call its s minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. || An animation of the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979 through 2015 with a date. || The graph overlay with transparency || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 7, 2015 when it covered an area of 3.884 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 14, 2014 when it covered an area of 4.527 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 9, 2013 when it covered an area of 4.645 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 12, 2012 when it covered an area of 2.91 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 6, 2011 when it covered an area of 3.734 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 17, 2010 when it covered an area of 4.106 million square kilometers || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 12, 2009 when it covered an area of 4.587 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 17, 2008 when it covered an area of 4.033 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 14, 2007 when it covered an area of 3.712 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 14, 2006 when it covered an area of 5.16 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 21, 2005 when it covered an area of 4.951 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 8, 2004 when it covered an area of 5.399 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 5, 2003 when it covered an area of 5.393 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 8, 2002 when it covered an area of 5.126 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 16, 2001 when it covered an area of 5.879 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 10, 2000 when it covered an area of 5.512 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 11,1999 when it covered an area of 5.2 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 11, 1998 when it covered an area of 5.607 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 2,1997 when it covered an area of 6.133 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 8, 1996 when it covered an area of 6.752 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 8, 1995 when it covered an area of 5.544 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 5, 1994 when it covered an area of 6.273 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 4,1993 when it covered an area of 5.469 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on August 31, 1992 when it covered an area of 6.499 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 16, 1991 when it covered an area of 5.733 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 3, 1990 when it covered an area of 5.635 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 9, 1989 when it covered an area of 6.265 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on August 30, 1988 when it covered an area of 6.492 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on August 23, 1987 when it covered an area of 6.248 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 8, 1986 when it covered an area of 6.663 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 7, 1985 when it covered an area of 6.14 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 10, 1984 when it covered an area of 6.206 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 6, 1983 when it covered an area of 6.785 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 9, 1982 when it covered an area of 6.662 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 6, 1981 when it covered an area of 6.438 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on August 26, 1980 when it covered an area of 7.01 million square kilometers. || An image of the Arctic minimum sea ice on September 21, 1979 when it covered an area of 6.455 million square kilometers.