The Danish Arctic research institutions present updated knowledge on the condition of two major components of the Arctic: The Greenland Ice Sheet and the sea ice
ARCTIC SEA ICE
Sea ice extent
Sea Ice coverage on the northern hemisphere
The figure shows daily updated sea-ice extent in the Arctic, calculated as the total area of ice-covered ocean. The sea-ice cover expands throughout the winter and reaches its maximum in early March. The melt season begins when the sunlight intensifies in the spring, and in late summer the ice-covered area is down to about a third of the winter maximum.
The ice-covered area is calculated from the ice-type data from the Ocean and Sea Ice, Satellite Application Facility (OSISAF), where areas with ice concentrations higher than 15% are classified as ice and below 15% as open water.
The grey shaded area corresponds to the climate mean plus/minus 1 standard deviation.
Sea Ice coverage on the northern hemisphere
The figure shows a map with daily updated sea-ice coverage in the northern hemisphere. The scale goes from white, representing 100% ice cover, to black that defines the ice edge. The blue colour indicates coastlines. The melt season begins when the sunlight intensifies in the spring and in late summer the ice-covered area is down to about a third of the winter maximum.
The ice-covered area is calculated from the ice-type data from the Ocean and Sea Ice, Satellite Application Facility (OSISAF), where areas with ice concentrations higher than 15% are classified as ice, and below 15% as open water.