Arctic Sea Ice Data Set

This data set shows annual changes in Arctic sea ice from 1979-2022. Sea ice pertains to the study of frozen seawater over the ocean surface. Scientists monitor global change through the long-term measurement of sea ice. Sea ice forms in the cold winter months, when seawater freezes into massive blocks of floating ice, then partially melts away in the warm summer months. This cycle repeats every year. Scientists can only understand how sea ice is changing by comparing current conditions to long-term averages.

DATASHEET: Arctic Sea Ice Annual September Minimum (1979-2022) Dataset

Arctic Sea Ice Data Spreadsheet

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NASA Explorers: Ice Odyssey – To know the evolution of sea ice and how we observe it from space is to know Dr. Claire Parkinson. Meet the scientist who continues to have a profound effect on the study of climate change through her work monitoring the health of global sea ice.