NASA | Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2015 Minimum Extent

In 2015, the Arctic sea ice reached its fourth lowest extent on record, measuring 1.7 million square miles. This was 699,000 square miles below the 30-year average from 1981 to 2010, a difference comparable to the size of Alaska. Scientists have observed a consistent decline in sea ice coverage over the past three decades, with 10 record minimums occurring in the last 11 years. Not only is the thin seasonal ice melting, but the thicker, multi-year ice is also becoming less resilient. This trend suggests that future years may experience even larger ice melts.

What was the annual minimum extent of Arctic sea ice recorded on September 11th, 2015?

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How does this year's minimum extent compare to the 30-year average from 1981 to 2010?

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What trend have scientists observed in Arctic sea ice coverage over the past three decades?

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What has been the impact of melting thin seasonal ice on thicker multi-year ice?

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What do scientists predict about future ice melt based on this year's observations?

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