Arctic Daily Sea Ice Concentration from March 2012 to February 2013

This animation shows the Arctic sea ice melt from August 1 through September 13, 2012, the date on which the ice reached its smallest extent ever recorded in more than three decades of satellite measurements, according to scientists from NASA. The data is from the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program before colder weather builds the ice cover back up. This year the area covered 3.439 million square kilometers, that is down by more than 3.571 million square kilometers from the high of 7.011 million square kilometers measured in 1980. The size of this annual minimum remains in a long-term decline.Note: Scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who calculate the sea ice minimum based on a 5-day trailing average, identified September 16 as the date when the lowest minimum extent occurred. NASA scientists who calculate area on each individual day identified September 13th as the date of the minimum sea ice, although there is little difference in size between the two days. This animation shows the daily Arctic sea ice from August 1, 2012 through September 13,2012.

These images show the Arctic sea ice in September 2012 when it reached the smallest extent ever recorded in more than three decades of satellite measurements, according to scientists from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center(NSIDC). Scientists at the NSIDC who calculate the sea ice minimum based on a 5-day trailing average identified September 16 as the lowest day. NASA scientists who calculate area on each individual day identified September 13th, although there is little difference between the two days. The data is from the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program before colder weather builds the ice cover back up. This year, according to NASA scientists, the area covered 3.439 million square kilometers, down by more than 3.571 million square kilometers from the high of 7.011 million square kilometers measured in 1980. The size of this minimum remains in a long-term decline.The sea ice has a slightly different coloration in the last three groups of images below. In the first four groups, the color of the sea ice has a pale blue tint. In the final three groups, the sea ice is shown in white. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 16, 2012, the day that the National Snow and Ice Data Center identified to be the minimum reached in 2012. The yellow outline shows the average sea ice minimum from 1979 through 2010. The sea ice is shown with a blue tint. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 16, 2012, the day that the National Snow and Ice Data Center identified to be the minimum reached in 2012. The sea ice is shown with a blue tint. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 13, 2012, the day that NASA scientists identified to be the minimum area in 2012. The yellow outline shows the average sea ice minimum from 1979 through 2010. The sea ice is shown with a blue tint. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 13, 2012, the day that NASA scientists identified to be the minimum area in 2012. The sea ice is shown with a blue tint. The sea ice is shown with a blue tint. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 16, 2012, the day that the National Snow and Ice Data Center identified to be the minimum reached in 2012. The sea ice is shown colored white. The sea ice is shown here in white. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 13, 2012, the day that NASA scientists identified to be the minimum area in 2012. The sea ice is shown here in white. An image of the Arctic sea ice on September 21, 1979, the day that NASA scientists identified as the minimum area in 1979 and is shown here for the purpose of comparison. The sea ice is shown here in white.

Sea 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 visualization shows Artic sea ice from July 1, 2008 through Septemeber 14, 2008 based on the DMSP/SSMI instrument. The minimum Arctic sea ice extent occurred the week of September 12, 2008, when the extent was 4.52 million sq km (1.74 million sq miles). Animation of daily Arctic sea ice 2008 Arctic sea ice on 12 September 2008 Arctic sea ice on 13 September 2008 Arctic sea ice on 14 September 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 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 2007 daily Arctic sea ice from from 1 August through 19 September. Arctic sea ice from 01 Aug 2007 to 19 Sept 2007 Overlay: dates that are match framed and can be overlaid on the ice image