Ice and the Arctic

For over 30 years, satellites have been measuring the sea ice extent in the Arctic, and it is beyond a doubt, that there is significantly less sea ice on the Northern Hemisphere today than 35 years ago.

Over the last 10 years, the shrinking has accelerated and during the minimum ice extent period in September, sizable changes can be observed. The ice in the Polar Sea has never been thinner and more vulnerable than now.

Sea ice is important to the understanding of the global climate system. Therefore, the development in the Arctic is being followed closely by climate and Arctic researchers around the globe.

Facts and information

Ocean themes

Ocean models

Ice and the Arctic

   -Ice drift and concentration

   -Mean temperatures

   -Sea ice area extent

   -Sea ice extent, monthly

   -Pressure and temperature

   -Sea ice glossary

About COI

COI monitors the weather, sea and ice development in the Arctic closely for three primary reasons. Firstly, to follow the climatological development. Secondly, to produce physical data products for numerical weather and sea models, and thirdly, to support ships with the latest ice observations.

The Greenland Ice Service

DMI's Greenland Ice Service collects and distributes information about the ice conditions in Greenland waters, which is primarily used to produce ice charts.

Edited by Tue Tobias Kosack, ttk@dmi.dk © DMI, 11 January 2012