How much ice did the Arctic lose?
We lose Arctic sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years, the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic has declined by a stunning 95%. If emissions continue to rise unchecked, the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer by 2040.
What was the level of sea ice in 2015?
Table 1.
| YEAR | MINIMUM ICE EXTENT | |
|---|---|---|
| IN MILLIONS OF SQUARE KILOMETERS | IN MILLIONS OF SQUARE MILES | |
| 2015 | 4.41 | 1.70 |
| 1979 to 2000 average | 6.70 | 2.59 |
| 1981 to 2010 average | 6.22 | 2.40 |
How much Arctic ice is lost each year?
Using a combination of satellite data and ocean models, the study estimates that Arctic sea ice has been shrinking by about 230 billion tons each year since 1980.
How much has Arctic ice lost in the last 35 years?
Historically, the Arctic Ocean contains the oldest and thickest solid layer of frozen water in the world. But over the last 35 years researchers say it’s lost a staggering 95% of its mass.
What is the general trend in sea ice extent for September 1979 2015?
The linear rate of sea ice decline for September extent from 1979 to 2019 is 82,400 square kilometers (31,800 square miles) per year, or 12.9 percent per decade relative to the 1981 to 2010 average.
How much does Antarctica grow during winter?
The 2021 winter maximum extent came a few weeks earlier than usual, reaching 18.75 million square kilometers (7.24 million square miles) on September 1.
When did the Arctic ice start to melt?
Instead, a pattern of steep Arctic sea ice decline began in 2002. The AO likely triggered a phase of accelerated melt that continued into the next decade because of unusually warm Arctic air temperatures. Arctic ice extent has dropped steeply since 2002. Table based on data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Is the Antarctic growing or shrinking?
According to climate models, rising global temperatures should cause sea ice in both regions to shrink. But observations show that ice extent in the Arctic has shrunk faster than models predicted, and in the Antarctic it has been growing slightly.