Is there less sea ice in the Arctic than there used to be?

Background: The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) coordinates data on Arctic Sea ice, which is frozen ocean water. Even though you may never see sea ice, it is very important for global processes. Because it is light in color (unlike liquid ocean water, which looks dark), it reflects the sun’s rays (it has a high albedo) and helps to stabilize global temperature. The graph below shows the most recent update of this year’s sea ice extent in the Arctic. Sea ice extent is the area of ocean covered by sea ice.

This year’s data are compared to data from last year and the long-term average extent. The map shows the most recent extent (in white) and the long-term average extent in the orange outline. (More on sea ice: )

Data source: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)