Publication Date February 7, 2017 | National Snow and Ice Data Center

2017 ushers in record low extent

Arctic
The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of February 5, 2017, along with daily ice extent data for four previous years. ImageL NSIDC
The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of February 5, 2017, along with daily ice extent data for four previous years. ImageL NSIDC

Record low daily Arctic ice extents continued through most of January 2017, a pattern that started last October. Extent during late January remained low in the Kara, Barents and Bering Seas. Southern Hemisphere extent also tracked at record low levels for January; globally, sea ice cover remains at record low levels.