The Arctic is experiencing rapid warming, leading to a significant decrease in sea ice. This loss has profound global implications, affecting Earth’s climate regulation, weather patterns, and ocean currents. Sea Ice Today provides crucial data and analysis to understand these changes. The website leverages NASA data and NSIDC expertise to offer accessible resources and tools, fostering a deeper understanding of Arctic climate change.
Since 2007, Sea Ice Today has served as a primary source for insights, analyses, and visualizations of yearly sea ice fluctuations. With over two million annual page visits, the site caters to a diverse audience, including journalists, the public, academics, and scientists. The primary focus is on sea ice extent, measuring the ocean area covered by at least some ice. Minimum Arctic sea ice extent occurs in September, while the maximum occurs in March. In the Antarctic, the minimum is in February and the maximum in September. Comparing these annual extremes to historical data and decadal averages reveals crucial long-term trends in ice loss.
Sea Ice Today, funded by NASA and managed by NSIDC, offers the latest satellite data and scientific analyses of sea ice conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. Originally known as Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis (ASINA) from 2007 to 2024, the platform rebranded as Sea Ice Today. The site provides vital information for understanding the ongoing changes in polar regions.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, produces Sea Ice Today. A team of researchers, including Walt Meier, Ted Scambos, Mark Serreze, and Julienne Stroeve, regularly contribute, occasionally featuring guest authors. This collaborative effort ensures the accuracy and relevance of the information presented. Today Is National, let’s recognize the importance of understanding these trends and supporting ongoing research.
