A newer version of this visualization is available.
5036: Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Area 1979-2022, With Graph
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2015 with Area Graph
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- Visualizations by:
- Cindy Starr
- View full credits
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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and sea ice area. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2015. In 2015, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 3.885 million square kilometers.
This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2015 as derived from SSMI data. A semi-transparent graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
The Blue Marble data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC).
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Visualizer
- Cindy Starr (Global Science and Technology, Inc.) [Lead]
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Scientists
- Josefino Comiso (NASA/GSFC)
- Walt Meier (NASA/GSFC)
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Project support
- Eric Sokolowsky (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
- Joycelyn Thomson Jones (NASA/GSFC)
- Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
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Technical support
- Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
- Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
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Sr. data analyst
- Robert Gersten (SGT)
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Datasets used in this visualization
Comiso's September Minimum Sea Ice Concentration
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details, nor the data sets themselves on our site.
Related pages
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ID: 4592 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2017 (SSMI data)
Read moreThe annual minimum Arctic sea ice from 1979-2017. ||
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ID: 12335 Produced Video
2016 Sea Ice Minimum Live Shots
Read moreArctic Sea Ice Live Shot Roll-Ins || Arctic Sea Ice Trending Low After Record 2016 Heat NASA Scientists Available August 19 To Show New Views Of The Arctic During Summer Melt SeasonRecord-breaking temperatures in the first half of 2016 have primed the Arctic for another summer of low sea ice cover. Sea ice is frozen ocean water around the polar caps that, in the winter thickens and grows and in the summer thins and decreases. Arctic sea ice is important because it reflects sunlight and keeps the Arctic region cool. Over the past three decades, Arctic sea ice has dramatically declined; making what was once extraordinary low measurements the new normal. Join NASA scientists on Friday August 19th from 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EDT to show your viewers new images from the Arctic, and talk about how the polar region is fairing this summer, and how long-term changes in this region could affect the way we live in the U.S. The Arctic is Earth’s air conditioner and it helps regulate global temperatures. But the region is warming twice as fast as elsewhere in the world, making the Arctic one of the most visible signs of a changing planet. NASA is keeping a close eye on changing conditions in the Arctic with its satellites, airborne and ground campaigns that are measuring the polar sea ice. Scientists are also monitoring the ice sheets that sit on land that are also melting at increasing rates. In 2018 NASA will launch the ICESat-2 satellite that will make some of the most advanced measurements of the polar regions ever. ** To book a window **Michelle Handleman/ michelle.z.handleman@nasa.gov / 301-286-0918 workHD Satellite Coordinates for AMC9-K17/Slot AB (18MHz): AMC-9 Ku-band Xp 17 Slot AB| 83.0 ° W Longitude | DL 12045.0 MHz | Horizontal Polarity | QPSK/DVB-S | FEC 3/4 | SR 13.235 Mbps | DR 18.2954 MHz | HD 720p | Format MPEG2 | Chroma Level 4:2:0 | Audio EmbeddedSuggested Questions:1.Globally it’s been the warmest year on record. What do the latest images show us about this year’s summer in the Arctic? 2.What is sea ice and why is it important to the Arctic and the Earth as a whole? 3.Do you think we’ll ever see an ice-free Arctic? 4.What about the rest of the Arctic – aren’t we seeing changes in Greenland, too?5.Where can we learn more?Live Shot Details: Location: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Greenbelt, MarylandScientists:•Dr. Walt Meier / NASA Scientist •Dr. Tom Wagner / NASA Cryosphere Program Manager •Dr. Carlos Del Castillo / NASA Scientist [Interviews in Spanish]Video: NASA will roll all insert videos during live interviews. If needed, stations can roll a clean feed of all video at 5:45 a.m. EDT on August 18, 2016, at the above listed satellite. Canned interviews and b-roll will be available starting August 18 at 6:00 p.m. EDTOn Twitter @NASAEarth ||
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ID: 3573 Visualization
September 2007 Arctic Sea Ice vs 1979-2007 Average with Graph of 1979 to 2008 Ice Areas
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent at the end of each summer and the remaining ice is called the perennial ice cover. The 2007 Arctic summer sea ice reached the lowest extent of perennial ice cover on record. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry.This image compares the difference between the perennial sea ice minimum area on September 14, 2007 and the 1979-2007 average minimum sea ice. A graph inset in the top left corner shows the decline in annual sea ice area from 1979 through 2008. ||
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ID: 3474 Visualization
Minimum Sea Ice Comparison: 2005, 2007 and the 1979-2007 Average
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent at the end of each summer and the remaining ice is called the perennial ice cover. The 2007 Arctic summer sea ice reached the lowest extent of perennial ice cover on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry.A full global version of this animation was initially developed for a Science On a Sphere exhibit. A smaller subset is shown here focusing on the Arctic region. The animation is shown on a plane with a geographic (lat/lon) projection, but has been rotated 90 degrees so that the Arctic is in the center of the image. The animation compares the difference between the perennial sea ice minimum extent on September 21, 2005 and September 14, 2007. Both years are compared with the 1979-2007 average minimum sea ice. ||
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ID: 3470 Visualization
Comparison of Minimum Sea Ice Between 2005 and 2007 - Split Screen
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent at the end of each summer and the remaining ice is called the perennial ice cover. The 2007 Arctic summer sea ice has reached the lowest extent of perennial ice cover on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry.This animation compares the difference between the perennial sea ice minimum extent on September 21, 2005 and September 14, 2007. With a split screen, the area of the melted region is compared with the size of the state of California. ||
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ID: 3469 Visualization
Comparison of Minimum Sea Ice between 2005 and 2007 - Full Screen
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The 2007 Arctic summer sea ice has reached the lowest extent of perennial ice cover on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry.In this animation, the 2005 sea ice minimum extent is initially shown over the Arctic. As the 2005 minimum sea ice fades to orange, the 2007 minimum extent comes into view. The state of California, shown in green, is placed in the melt region for a comparison of the size difference between the two years.. ||
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ID: 12178 Produced Video
Sea Ice Maximum/Operation IceBridge Live Shots
Read moreB-roll and canned interviews will be added on Thursday, March 24 || Just three months into 2016 and already global temperatures – particularly in the Arctic – are far warmer than normal. Global temperatures for February were the warmest on record for that month.Nowhere is this warming trend felt more than in theArctic where the unusual wintertime warmth has contributed to record low wintertime sea ice extent. Arctic sea ice keeps the Polar Regions cold and helps regulate global temperatures. The shrinking of sea ice is a key indicator of our planet’s health.NASA is monitoring the health of the Arctic from space and the ground. In the coming days NASA will launch two missions – Operation Ice Bridge and OMG (Oceans Melting Greenland). These airborne and ground campaigns to the Arctic will take measurements of sea ice and glacier thickness.Join NASA scientists on Friday, March 25 from 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EDT to see new images of this year’s sea ice extent; talk about how the Arctic faired this winter; and find out the latest on NASA missions to the Arctic set to launch in the coming days.Suggested Questions:1. What do the latest images show us about this year’s winter in the Arctic?2. What do the images tell us about the long-term trend?3. NASA is getting ready to send out teams of scientists to the Arctic in the comingdays. What will they be doing?4. Where can we learn more?*** To book a window contact***Michelle Handleman / michelle.z.handleman@nasa.govClick for sea ice Flickr gallery. ||
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ID: 5036 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Area 1979-2022, With Graph
Read moreArctic sea ice minimum area 1979-2022, with graph || 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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2022. In 2022, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 4.16 million square kilometers (1.6 million square miles). This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2022 as derived from passive microwave data. ||
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ID: 5002 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Area 1979-2022
Read moreArctic sea ice minimum 1979-2021, with graph ||
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ID: 4867 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2020 with Area Graph
Read moreArctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2020, With Graph || 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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2020. In 2020, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 3.36 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2020 as derived from passive microwave data. A graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. ||
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ID: 4786 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2019 with Area Graph
Read moreArctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2019, With Graph || 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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2019. In 2019, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 3.66 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2019 as derived from passive microwave data. A graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. ||
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ID: 4686 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2018 with Area Graph
Read moreAnnual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Area, With Graph || 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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2018. In 2018, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 4.15 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2018 as derived from passive microwave data. A graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. ||
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ID: 4573 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2016 with Area Graph
Read moreA visualization of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice from 1979 to 2016 with a graph overlay. (fast playback)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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2016. In 2016, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 3.57 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 through 2016 as derived from passive microwave data. A graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. ||
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ID: 4301 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2014 with Area Graph
Read moreThis animation shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum with a graph overlay that depicts the area of the sea ice in millions of square kilometers. || 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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and sea ice area. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2014. In 2014, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 4.527 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 to 2014 as derived from SSMI data. A semi-transparent graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. ||
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ID: 4131 Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2013 with Area Graph
Read moreSatellite-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 "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and sea ice area. This graph displays the area of the minimum sea ice coverage each year from 1979 through 2013. In 2013, the Arctic minimum sea ice covered an area of 4.704 million square kilometers. This visualization shows the expanse of the annual minimum Arctic sea ice for each year from 1979 to 2013 as derived from SSMI data. A semi-transparent graph overlay shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The date shown in the upper right corner indicates the current year being displayed. ||
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ID: 4004 Visualization
National Climate Assessment Annual Arctic Minimum Sea Ice Extents (1979-2012)
Read moreThe National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a central component of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). Every four years, the NCA is required to produce a report for Congress that integrates, evaluates, and interprets the findings of the USGCRP; analyzes the effects of global change on the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems, and biological diversity; and analyzes current trends in global change, both human-induced and natural, and projects major trends for the subsequent 25 to 100 years. A draft of the Third National Climate Assessment report is available on the Federal Advisory Committee website. The final report is slated to be released in 2014. This scientific visualization of annual minimum sea ice area over the Arctic from 1979-2012 is one element of the NCA that highlights findings conveyed in the "Our Changing Climate", the "Alaska and the Arctic" and the "Impacts of Climate Change on Tribal, Indigenous, and Native Lands and Resources" chapters of the draft Third NCA report. This record shows a persistent decline in the minimum extent of Arctic sea ice cover. The satellite observations are from passive microwave sensors and processed using the NASA Team algorithm developed by scientists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The sensors that collected the data are the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) on the NASA Nimbus-7 satellite and a series of Special Sensor Microwave Imagers (SSM/I) and Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sounders (SSMIS) on U.S. Department of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. The data from the different sensors are carefully assembled to assure consistency throughout the 34 year record.This visualization is similar to another developed by NASA, but is based on a slightly different algorithm to process the same sensor data. Both show similar downward trends in minimum sea ice area coverage over this time period. ||
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ID: 3991 Visualization
Sea Ice Yearly Minimum 1979-2012 (SSMI data) with Graph
Read moreThe continued significant reduction in the area covered by the summer sea ice is a dramatic illustration of the pronounced impact increased global temperatures are having on the Arctic regions. There has also been a significant reduction in the relative amount of older, thicker ice. Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice cover have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the Arctic ice cover since 1979. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and ice area. This visualization shows the annual September minimum sea ice area in the background and a graph of the ice area values foreground. The ice area provides the total area actually covered by sea ice which is useful for estimating the total volume and therefore mass, given the average ice thickness. For more information about these ice datasets, see The Journal of Geophysical Research VOL. 113, C02S07, doi:10.1029/2007JC004257, 2008This visualization shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979 to 2012. A semi-transparent graph is overlaid that shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The '1979', '2007', and '2012' data points are highlighted on the graph.For high resolution still images of the 1979 and 2012 September sea ice minimum, see visualization #3998. ||
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ID: 3893 Visualization
Sea Ice Yearly Minimum 1979-2011 (SSMI data)
Read moreThe continued significant reduction in the area covered by the summer sea ice is a dramatic illustration of the pronounced impact increased global temperatures are having on the Arctic regions. There has also been a significant reduction in the relative amount of older, thicker ice. Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice cover have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the Arctic ice cover since 1979. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and ice area. This visualization shows the annual September minimum sea ice area in the background and a graph of the ice area values foreground. The ice area provides the total area actually covered by sea ice which is useful for estimating the total volume and therefore mass, given the average ice thickness. For more information about these ice datasets, see The Journal of Geophysical Research VOL. 113, C02S07, doi:10.1029/2007JC004257, 2008This visualization shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979 to 2011. A graph is overlaid that shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The '1979','2007', and '2011' data points are highlighted on the graph. ||
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ID: 3802 Visualization
Sea Ice Yearly Minimum 1979-2010 (SSMI data)
Read moreThe continued significant reduction in the extent of the summer sea ice cover is a dramatic illustration of the pronounced impact increased global temperatures are having on the Arctic regions. There has also been a significant reduction in the relative amount of older, thicker ice. Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice cover have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the extent of the Arctic ice cover since 1979. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and ice area. This visualization shows ice extent in the background and ice area in the foreground. Ice extent is defined here as the integrated sum of the areas of data elements (pixels) with at least 15% ice concentration while ice area is the integrated sum of the products of the area of each pixel and the corresponding ice concentration. Ice extent provides information about how far south (or north) the ice extends in winter and how far north (or south) it retreats toward the continent in the summer while the ice area provides the total area actually covered by sea ice which is useful for estimating the total volume and therefore mass, given the average ice thickness. For more information about these ice datasets, see The Journal of Geophysical Research VOL. 113, C02S07, doi:10.1029/2007JC004257, 2008 In 2007, Arctic summer sea ice reached its lowest extent on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005. At the end of each summer, the sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent and what is left is what is called the perennial ice cover which consists mainly of thick multi-year ice flows. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade.This visualization shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979 to 2010. A graph is overlaid that shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The 1979, 2007, and 2010 data points are highlighted on the graph. ||
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ID: 3563 Visualization
Sea Ice Yearly Minimum with Graph Overlay 1979-2008
Read moreThe continued significant reduction in the extent of the summer sea ice cover is a dramatic illustration of the pronounced impact increased global temperatures are having on the Arctic regions. There has also been a significant reduction in the relative amount of older, thicker ice. Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice cover have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the extent of the Arctic ice cover since 1979. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and ice area. This visualization shows ice extent in the background and ice area in the foreground. Ice extent is defined here as the integrated sum of the areas of data elements (pixels) with at least 15% ice concentration while ice area is the integrated sum of the products of the area of each pixel and the corresponding ice concentration. Ice extent provides information about how far south (or north) the ice extends in winter and how far north (or south) it retreats toward the continent in the summer while the ice area provides the total area actually covered by sea ice which is useful for estimating the total volume and therefore mass, given the average ice thickness. For more information about these ice datasets, see The Journal of Geophysical Research VOL. 113, C02S07, doi:10.1029/2007JC004257, 2008 ||
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ID: 3464 Visualization
Sea Ice Yearly Minimum 1979-2007
Read moreIn 2007, Arctic summer sea ice reached its lowest extent on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005. At the end of each summer, the sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent and what is left is what is called the perennial ice cover which consists mainly of thick multi-year ice floes. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry as new shipping lanes open.This visualization shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979 to 2007. A graph is overlaid that shows the area in million square kilometers for each year's minimum day. The previous record and the 2007 record are highlighted. ||
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ID: 3445 Visualization
Sea Ice Minimum Concentration 3-year moving averages for 1979-1981 to 2004-2006
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent at the end of each summer and the remaining ice is called the perennial ice cover. This animation shows a 3-year moving average of the perennial ice cover, or minimum sea ice concentration, for from 1979-1981 through 2004-2006. The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. This decrease is evident in the animation shown here.This is an update of animation ID #3267. ||
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ID: 3378 Visualization
Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Concentration for 1979-2006
Read moreThis animation shows the annual minimum Arctic sea ice extent and concentration from 1979 to 2006. Average climatology from 1979 to 2004 is shown as a yellow outline. || Yearly Arctic sea ice concentrations 1979 to 2006 (with dates and climatology average) || Yearly Arctic sea ice concentrations 1979 to 2006 || Date overlay files corresponding to yearly sea ice || Sea ice climatology averages from 1979 to 2004 || Arctic sea ice from Sep 14, 2006 (with climatology average) || Arctic Sea ice from Sep 14, 2006 ||
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ID: 3371 Visualization
Three-Year Average September Minimum Sea Ice Concentration 1979 - 2005
Read moreSea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. Because the extent of the sea ice is important both for the Arctic marine ecology and for the role it plays in the Earth's climate, understanding the variation of this extent during the year and from year-to-year is vital. Each year, the minimum sea ice extent in the northern hemisphere occurs at the end of summer, in September. By comparing the extent of the sea ice in September over many successive years, long term trends in the polar climate can be assessed. This animation shows the three-year moving average September mean sea ice concentration in the northern hemisphere from 1979-1981 through 2003-2005. Since 1999, this minimum has shown an ice extent that is consistently 10% to 15% smaller than the average extent over the past 20 years. ||
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ID: 2926 Visualization
Arctic Yearly Minimum Sea Ice Concentration 1979-2003
Read moreThis animation shows the yearly minimum sea ice concentration from September for each year from 1979 through 2003. The average sea ice extent from 1979-2002 is outlined in orange. || This animation shows the yearly minimum sea ice concentration from September for each year from 1979 through 2003. || An image of the minimum sea ice concentration in 1979 (September) || An image of the minimum sea ice concentration in 1980 (September) || An image of the minimum sea ice concentration in 1981 (September) ||
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ID: 2927 Visualization
Arctic Yearly Minimum Sea Ice Extent 1979-2003
Read moreThis animation shows the Arctic yearly minimum sea ice extent from September for each year from 1979 through 2003. The average sea ice extent from 1979-2002 is outlined in orange. || This animation shows the yearly minimum sea ice extent from September for each year from 1979 through 2003. || An image of the minimum sea ice extent in 1979 (September) || An image of the minimum sea ice extent in 1980 (September) || An image of the minimum sea ice extent in 1981 (September) || An image of the minimum sea ice extent in 1982 (September) ||
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ID: 3266 Visualization
Sea Ice Minimum Concentration for 1979-2005
Read moreThis animation shows the annual minimum sea ice extent and concentration for 25 years, from 1979 to 2005. Average climatology from 1979 to 2004 which is shown as a yellow outline is also included.Three year moving average are shown from 1979-1981 through 2003-2005. || Yearly sea ice concentrations 1979 to 2005 (with dates and climatology average) || Yearly sea ice concentrations 1979 to 2005 || Date overlay files corresponding to yearly sea ice || Sea ice climatology averages from 1979 to 2004 with 2 pixel wide line ||
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ID: 3267 Visualization
Sea Ice Minimum Concentration 3-year moving averages for 1979-1981 to 2003-2005
Read moreThis animation shows a 3-year moving average of minimum sea ice concentration for from 1979-1981 through 2003-2005. Average climatology from 1979 to 2004 which is shown as a yellow outline is also included. This line represents the average location of the edge of perennial sea ice cover. || Sea ice concentration3-year moving average from 1979-1981 through 2003-2005 || Sea ice climatology averages from 1979 to 2004 with 2 pixel wide line || Sea ice climatology averages from 1979 to 2004 with 5 pixel wide line ||
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ID: 3065 Visualization
Sea Ice Minimum Extent for 1979-2004
Read moreThis animation shows the annual minimum sea ice extent and concentration for 25 years, from 1979 to 2004. The year 2002 showed lowest level of sea ice on record. This visualization was created in support of the December 2004 American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting. NOTE: this version has a slightly different camera angle than the 2003 version, animation ID 2850 (the original camera angle was lost). || Sea ice minimum extents from 1979 to 2004 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1979. || Sea ice minimum extent for 1980 ||
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ID: 2850 Visualization
Sea Ice Minimum Extent for 1979-2003
Read moreThis visualization was created in support of the October 2003 Cryosphere Earth Science Update (ESU). || This animation shows the annual minimum sea ice extent and concentration for 24 years, from 1979 to 2003. The year 2002 showed lowest level of sea ice on record. || Sea ice minimum extent for 1979 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1980 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1981 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1982 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1983 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1984 || Sea ice minimum extent for 1985 ||
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