Arctic Sea Ice at Maximum Extent for 2019
Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 14.78 million square kilometers (5.71 million square miles) on March 13, 2019, according to scientists at the ) directed by Geography professor Mark Serreze at the University of baby直播app Boulder. The 2019 maximum is effectively tied with the 2007 maximum at seventh lowest in the 40-year satellite record.
鈥淲hile this is not a record low year for the Arctic sea ice maximum extent, the last four years have been the lowest in our record, reflecting a downward trend in winter sea ice extent,鈥 said NSIDC senior research scientist Walt Meier. 鈥淭his is just another indicator of the rapid changes that are occurring in the Arctic due to climate change.鈥
NSIDC is part of the at the University of baby直播app Boulder. The is supported in part by NASA.
To read the full analysis of this year's ice conditions, visit NSIDC's page.
Download the NASA animation of the 2019 Arctic sea ice melt season .
Scientists collect sea ice data in the Beaufort Sea northeast of Barrow, Alaska. Image credit: NASA/Kathryn Hansen.