Satellites Show Sea Ice Sunk to Record Lows at Both Poles

On March 7, 2017, Arctic sea ice reached its annual wintertime maximum extent, according to scientists from NASA and the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). The Arctic sea ice extent set a record low after a warm winter. On the opposite side of the planet, on March 3, sea ice around Antarctica hit its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites. On February 13, the combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice numbers were at their lowest point since satellites began to continuously measure sea ice in 1979.

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00:00:00 Every year, Arctic sea ice grows and extends through the winter. On March 7, 2017, Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent, setting a new record low. A low September minimum extent and a warm winter contributed to the low Arctic ice maximum. On February 13, the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice combined extent also set a new record. Globally, there was less sea ice than at any time since satellites began continuously tracking in 1979.