sea ice

February Was Ninth Consecutive Month of Record-Breaking Global Temperatures

February Was Ninth Consecutive Month of Record-Breaking Global Temperatures

According to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), February 2024 was the planet’s ninth consecutive record-warm month. February’s average global temperature on land and the ocean’s surface was 2.52 degrees Fahrenheit above the century’s average of 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit — the warmest February in the 175-year NOAA planetary climate record. […]

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    Antarctic Sea Ice Hits ‘Almost Mind Blowing’ New Low

    Antarctic Sea Ice Hits ‘Almost Mind Blowing’ New Low

    Recent satellite data from the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center shows that Antarctic sea ice extent is far below any level ever recorded. The continent’s sea ice is an important regulator of Earth’s temperature by not only lowering the temperature of the water below, but also reflecting the sun’s rays back into the […]

    Thousands of Emperor Penguin Chicks Die Due to Antarctic Ice Loss

    Thousands of Emperor Penguin Chicks Die Due to Antarctic Ice Loss

    Rapid global heating due to humans’ use of fossil fuels has contributed to an array of damaging environmental effects on the planet, including extreme weather, unprecedented ocean temperatures and a rapid decline in sea ice. Sea ice is the habitat of several animal species, including polar bears, Arctic fox, caribou and emperor penguins, who live […]

    Arctic Sea Ice 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Arctic Sea Ice 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is Arctic Sea Ice? Sea ice forms and covers most of the Arctic Ocean during the shorter, darker winter months. How much of the ocean’s surface is covered in sea ice is an important indicator of climate change. By mid-September, after the summer melt, the area covered by Arctic sea ice […]

    Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Extent Is Fifth Lowest on Record

    Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Extent Is Fifth Lowest on Record

    The Arctic sea ice extent for the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2023 is the fifth lowest on record. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) announced Wednesday that the Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent on March 6 at 5.64 million square miles. That’s 398,000 square miles below the average maximum for […]