NASA Earth Observatory - 2018 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 6th-Lowest On Record

[hatrack]

Arctic sea ice likely reached its minimum extent for the year on September 19 and again on September 23, 2018, according to researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and NASA.

Scientists track sea ice in the Arctic as it grows to a maximum extent through the winter and shrinks back in the summer to its minimum extent in September each year. This year’s minimum sea ice extent – the smallest area of ice for the year – reached 1.77 million square miles (4.59 million square km). That tied with 2008 and 2010 as the sixth lowest sea ice minimum since consistent satellite records began 40 years ago.

Researchers at NSIDC noted that the estimate is preliminary, and it is still possible (but not likely) that changing winds could push the ice extent lower.



EDIT

https://earthsky.org/earth/2018-arctic-sea-ice-minimum

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Thank you for the post, hatrack.

I really am thankful NASA is still a functioning body, since science has fallen out of favor in the government, each report is a reassuring, evidentiary, pat on the shoulder creating the comfort that only an old friend can supply.

Thanks again.

♡lmsp