sea ice: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 3, 2026

News •

Vanishing Antarctic Sea Ice May Upend Global Climate • Oct. 29, 2026, 11:45 AM ET (Gizmodo)

Photos and Videos

Side-by-side thematic maps showing the minimum and maximum sea ice extents in the Arctic (left) and Antarctic (right) regions. The Arctic map centers on the North Pole and Arctic Ocean, with colored lines marking median and recent maximum and minimum ice edges for March and September. The Antarctic map centers on the South Pole and Antarctica, similarly outlining the seasonal and median sea ice boundaries in the Southern Ocean. Surrounding continents and major bodies of water are labeled for geo

sea ice and albedo

Map of the Arctic region showing the decline in minimum sea ice extent from 1980 to 2020. The area covered by sea ice in 1980 is outlined in white, while the much smaller area remaining in 2020 is shaded in purple, illustrating significant sea ice loss over four decades around the North Pole and Arctic Ocean.

sea ice and iceberg drift patterns

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