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Topic: Sea ice

In the early morning hours, sunlight returns to the Arctic in spring, illuminating sea ice in a blue glow, after months of winter darkness.

5 things to know about an 'ice-free' Arctic

May 14, 2024

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In the early morning hours, sunlight returns to the Arctic in spring, illuminating sea ice in a blue glow, after months of winter darkness.

A shoreline view of Lake Michigan, just north of Muskegon, Michigan, on February 11, 2024. Though small chunks of ice dot the sandy beach, there is little-to-no ice coverage on the lake. Usually in February, the ice would be many inches thick at this same location, and the waves would be well off shore.

The Great Lakes this winter: Where did all the ice cover go?

February 14, 2024

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A shoreline view of Lake Michigan, just north of Muskegon, Michigan, on February 11, 2024. Though small chunks of ice dot the sandy beach, there is little-to-no ice coverage on the lake. Usually in February, the ice would be many inches thick at this same location, and the waves would be well off shore.

October 4, 2023: An aerial view of the drought-hit harbor of Cacau Pirêra, where houses that normally float on the water are lying on the river bed in Iranduba, Amazonas, Brazil. October 2023 was the world’s — and South America’s — warmest October on record.

The planet just had its warmest October on record

November 15, 2023

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monthly climate report

October 4, 2023: An aerial view of the drought-hit harbor of Cacau Pirêra, where houses that normally float on the water are lying on the river bed in Iranduba, Amazonas, Brazil. October 2023 was the world’s — and South America’s — warmest October on record.

HUARINA, BOLIVIA – SEPTEMBER 29, 2023: An aerial view of a boat stuck in the dried lake bed of Lake Titicaca. The water level of Titicaca, the largest lake in South America, has been dropping drastically due to the unprecedented winter heat that hit the country. September 2023 was the warmest September on record for South America and the globe.

Topping the charts: September 2023 was Earth’s warmest September in 174-year record

October 13, 2023

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monthly climate report

HUARINA, BOLIVIA – SEPTEMBER 29, 2023: An aerial view of a boat stuck in the dried lake bed of Lake Titicaca. The water level of Titicaca, the largest lake in South America, has been dropping drastically due to the unprecedented winter heat that hit the country. September 2023 was the warmest September on record for South America and the globe.

Sea ice concentration around Antarctica on September 10, 2023, the date of the winter maximum ice extent. The ice extent — the total area where the ice cover is at least 15% — was the lowest on record by a wide margin.

2023 Antarctic sea ice winter maximum is lowest on record by a wide margin

September 26, 2023

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Sea ice concentration around Antarctica on September 10, 2023, the date of the winter maximum ice extent. The ice extent — the total area where the ice cover is at least 15% — was the lowest on record by a wide margin.

SEVILLE, SPAIN - AUGUST 21: A person walks past a place of business cooled by water vapor during a heatwave on August 21, 2023. The city — the hottest major metropolitan area in continental Europe — baked under Europe’s second-warmest August and third-warmest summer on record.

The world just sweltered through its hottest August on record

September 14, 2023

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monthly climate report

SEVILLE, SPAIN - AUGUST 21: A person walks past a place of business cooled by water vapor during a heatwave on August 21, 2023. The city — the hottest major metropolitan area in continental Europe — baked under Europe’s second-warmest August and third-warmest summer on record.

Antarctic sea ice from June 5, 2023. Earth sweltered through a record-hot June, while last month had the lowest global sea ice coverage for any June on record.

Earth just had its hottest June on record

July 13, 2023

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monthly climate report

Antarctic sea ice from June 5, 2023. Earth sweltered through a record-hot June, while last month had the lowest global sea ice coverage for any June on record.

Adapted from NSIDC’s Sea Ice Index, this map shows sea ice concentration on June 27, 2023. Concentration is color coded, with white representing solid ice and dark blue representing open ocean. For reference, this map includes the median ice edge for 1981–2010: half of the years had smaller extents, and half had larger on this date.

Antarctic sees record-low early winter sea ice coverage

July 5, 2023

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Adapted from NSIDC’s Sea Ice Index, this map shows sea ice concentration on June 27, 2023. Concentration is color coded, with white representing solid ice and dark blue representing open ocean. For reference, this map includes the median ice edge for 1981–2010: half of the years had smaller extents, and half had larger on this date.

An aerial view shows a closed slope of artificial snow below Zugspitze mountain on January 16, 2023, near Ehrwald, Austria.

February 2023 was Earth’s 4th warmest on record

March 14, 2023

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monthly climate report

An aerial view shows a closed slope of artificial snow below Zugspitze mountain on January 16, 2023, near Ehrwald, Austria.

January, 2023: An image of Antarctica during a penguin survey throughout the Rosenthal Islands. January 2023 marked Antarctica’s lowest January sea ice coverage on record.

Earth had its 7th-warmest January on record

February 14, 2023

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monthly climate report

January, 2023: An image of Antarctica during a penguin survey throughout the Rosenthal Islands. January 2023 marked Antarctica’s lowest January sea ice coverage on record.

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