National snow and ice data center sea ice extent

National snow and ice data center september 17, 2009 arctic sea ice appears to have reached its minimum extent for the year, the thirdlowest extent since the start of satellite measurements in 1979. Two weeks after a new record was set in the arctic ocean for the least amount of sea ice coverage in the satellite record, the ice surrounding antarctica reached its annual winter maximumand set a record for a new high. Snow and ice products national oceanic and atmospheric. Regional sea ice snow and ice national centers for.

Eight out of 10 of the lowest september monthly average extents in the satellite record occurred during the past decade and the lowest extents have occurred in. While this years minimum extent is above the record and nearrecord. Federal geographic data committee geospatial metadata. Sea ice concentration and snow extent, global 1 day ssm. Sea ice extent in the arctic ocean nasa earth observatory.

Arctic sea ice likely reached its 2019 minimum extent of 1. Extent is calculated from nsidc sea ice concentration data see below. Our mission is to provide global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the united states government. Sea ice from the national snow and ice data center. For this collection, snow cover data are only available for the northern hemisphere, and only in 7day composite periods. It is the total area of grid cells with average sea ice concentration greater or equal to 15%. And on the opposite side of the planet, on march 3 sea ice around antarctica hit its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites at the end. Data are obtained from algorithms that convert microwave emission measured by satellites to sea ice concentration and. Arctic wintertime sea ice extent is among lowest on record.

National ice center nic is a multiagency center operated by the united states navy, the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, and the united states. Recent, preliminary data is based on the climate data record sea ice concentration variable while historical values are based on the goddard merged sea ice concentration variable. The special sensor microwave imagersounder ssmis is the current monitoring instrument. Sea ice extent 1978 2018 dataset science on a sphere. Nasa arctic sea ice hits smallest extent in satellite era. Passive microwave sensors used to collect nise input data are particularly sensitive to the presence of snow and ice on the ground. Arctic and antarctic sea ice data in spreadsheets for ease of analysis. Arctic sea ice reaches lowest extent ever measured, reports national snow and ice data center. Arctic sea ice reaches lowest extent ever recorded update 2. Exploring the cryosphere using data from the national snow. Arctic sea ice appears to have reached on march 7 a record low wintertime maximum extent, according to scientists at nasa and the nasasupported national snow and ice data center nsidc in boulder, colorado. Exchange for local observations and knowledge of the arctic eloka nasa distributed active archive center at nsidc nsidc daac looking for facts and information.

The sea ice extent data for the arctic and antarctic are provided by the national snow and ice data center nsidc and are measured from passive microwave instruments onboard noaa satellites. November 2016 brought recordlow sea ice extents in both the arctic and antarctic. Arctic sea ice was at a record low maximum extent for the second straight year, according to scientists at the national snow and ice data center nsidc at the university of colorado boulder and nasa. Read scientific analysis on arctic sea ice conditions. Posted on march 24, 2020 winter sea ice maximum extent on march 5 was the highest since 20. Sea ice archive from the nansen environmental and remote sensing center johannessen et al. Antarctic sea ice levels have shrunk to record low levels. The sea ice index provides a quick look at arctic and antarcticwide changes in sea ice. Gridded monthly sea ice extent and concentration, 1850 onward, version 2.

This sea ice extent dataset is on a 25km cell size grid covering both arctic and antarctic polar regions. But it provides ample polar bear habitat when the bears need it most. Monthly images show sea ice extent with an outline of the 30year 1981. Despite its name, the nsidc is not a government agency, but a research organization affiliated with the university of colorado boulders cooperative institute for research in environmental. This sea ice extent dataset is on a 25km cell size. Holland used data from nasas national snow and ice data center distributed active archive center nsidc daac to calculate the. Image courtesy of national snow and ice data center. Sea ice and snow cover extent snow and ice national. The most positive thing that us national snow and ice data center sea ice experts could say about this years winter sea ice maximum was that it wasnt a record breaker. The monthly sea ice index provides a quick look at arcticwide changes in sea. This matched 2007 as the second lowest minimum extent in the satellite record. All about sea ice, national snow and ice data center. The national snow and ice data center, or nsidc, is a united states information and referral center in support of polar and cryospheric research.

The 2020 maximum is the eleventh lowest in the 42year satellite record. Ive never see such a warm, crazy winter in the arctic, said nsidc director mark serreze. Conversely, march is typically when sea ice reaches its maximum extent after winter freezing. The national snow and ice data center nsidc multisensor analyzed sea ice extent nsidc the nrcs nwcc snotel maps. Sea ice in the arctic grew to its annual maximum extent last week, and joined 2015, 2016 and 2017 as the four lowest maximum extents on record, according to scientists at the nasasupported national snow and ice data center nsidc and nasa. Sea ice data and analysis tools arctic sea ice news and analysis. The sea ice concentration of total and multiyear ice based on the norsex algorithm. And now, the boulderbased national snow and ice data center nsidc, which tracks sea ice, has indeed announced that the peak winter arctic sea ice extent likely occurred feb. Sea ice index from the national snow and ice data center. Click here to download the monthly sea ice extension data from the national snow and ice data center nsidc. These form when separate ice floes collide and pile up on each other. While the 2018 ice extent was not as extreme as the. The national snow and ice data center monitors sea ice using a passive microwave satellite data record that begins in 1978.

The national snow and ice data center nsidc maintains the sea ice index, which consists of data showing trends and anomalies in monthly mean arctic and antarctic sea ice concentration and extent of coverage for a period of record beginning in 1979. Arctic sea ice extent was persistently low throughout the 2010s, punctuated by the record low september minimum of 2012. Arctic sea ice reaches 2019 minimum extent youtube. Multisensor analyzed sea ice extent northern hemisphere masienh. Sea ice extent sinks to record lows at both poles nasa.

Arctic sea ice reaches lowest extent ever measured. Sea ice index images also depict trends and anomalies in ice cover calculated using a. The sea ice extent estimates used here are based on products from the national snow and ice data center nsidc sea ice index fetterer et al. Arctic sea ice news and analysis sea ice data updated daily with. Based on estimates produced by the national snow and ice data center nsidc sea ice index fetterer et al. The national snow and ice data center nsidc is an organization that archives and manages scientific data issued from polar and glacier ice research.

Researchers at cires national snow and ice data center about nsidc investigate the dynamics of antarctic ice shelves, new techniques for the remote sensing of snow and freezethaw cycle of soils, the role of snow in hydrologic modeling, linkages between changes in sea ice extent and weather patterns, largescale shifts in polar climate, river and lake ice, and the distribution and. The sea ice extent period of record is from 19792020 for a total of 42 years. The frozen cap of the arctic ocean appears to have reached its annual summertime minimum extent and broken a new record low on sept. The database is continuously updated and developed. Other similar products exist and, while absolute numbers vary, they all show general. Obtain daily sea ice extent values, ranges, and median values for the arctic or the. September 2012 the arctic sea ice reached an absolute minimum extension since start of observations in 1979. Neo also offers another collection of daily global snow and sea maps for both hemispheres this dataset combines snow cover and sea ice extent at weekly intervals from october 23, 1978 through june 5, 2005, and snow cover alone from october 3, 1966, through october 23, 1978. The ice concentration near the north pole that can not be measured due to the satellite orbit the so. Sea ice index, version 3 national snow and ice data center. The sea ice index provides a quick look at arctic and antarcticwide changes. View the fgdc metatdata for sea ice concentration and snow extent, global 1 day ssmi dmsp quick tip. Arctic sea ice has likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 15.

Sea ice extent provided by the national snow and ice data center nsidc is available from. Arctic sea ice reaches annual minimum extent students on ice. Scientists say arctic sea ice just set a disturbing new. Arctic sea ice has likely reached its annual minimum for 2018, according to the national snow and ice data center nsidc. Global snow and ice february 2020 state of the climate. Sea ice extent and area are calculating using sea ice concentration data produced by the national snow and ice data center nsidc as a climate data record. Images by national snow and ice data center nsidc in boulder, colorado, using satellite passive microwave data from the special sensor microwaveimager ssmi. It is a source for consistent, uptodate sea ice extent and concentration images, in png format, and data values, in geotiff and ascii text files, from november 1978 to the present.

The monthly sea ice index provides a quick look at arcticwide changes in sea ice. Charctic interactive sea ice graph arctic sea ice news and analysis. Arctic sea ice news fall 2007 from the national snow and ice data center. Since then, ice extent has grown again, signaling an end to the summer melt season. Winter sea ice maximum extent on march 5 was the highest. The national snow and ice data center nsidc supports research into our worlds frozen realms. Millions of square kilometers date arctic sea ice extent area of ocean with.

Arctic sea ice news and analysis, national snow and ice data center. Analysis of satellite data by nasa and the nasasupported nsidc at the university of colorado in boulder showed that the sea ice extent shrunk to 1. September 18, 2009 arctic sea ice reaches annual minimum extent. That heat loss coupled with a large area of open water creates ideal conditions for sea ice to form rapidly over large areas. Nsidc archives and distributes digital and analog snow and ice data and also maintains information about snow cover, avalanches, glaciers, ice sheets, freshwater ice, sea ice, ground ice, permafrost, atmospheric ice, paleoglaciology, and ice cores. Sea ice and snow extent, northern hemisphere 1 week nasa. The table below gives approximate values for the sea ice extent in millions of square kilometers from 1986 to 2012, in twoyear intervals. Sea ice extent provided by the national snow and ice data center nsidc is available from 19792020 for the northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere, and globe. Monthly images show sea ice extent with an outline of the 30year 19812010 median extent for that month magenta line. Bad news alarmists official data reveals arctic sea ice. Data for this indicator were gathered by the national snow and ice data center using satellite imaging technology and data processing methods developed by the national aeronautics and space administration. Extent of arctic sea ice the national snow and ice data center monitors the amount of ice in the arctic year round. The number is 27,000 square miles, or 70,000 square kilometers below the record low.