sea ice Archives - State of the Planet

More Frequent Atmospheric Rivers Are Hindering the Recovery of Arctic Sea Ice

Giant trains of warm, moist air are playing havoc with Arctic sea ice during the season when it should be recovering from summer melting.

by |February 6, 2023

What Lies Beneath Melting Glaciers and Thawing Permafrost?

As the planet’s ice disappears, it’s exposing new surfaces, opportunities, and threats — including valuable mineral deposits, archaeological relics, novel viruses, and more.

by |September 13, 2022

Solar Energy Explains Fast Yearly Retreat of Southern Ocean Sea Ice

Sea ice in the Southern Ocean retreats each year much faster than it develops. This has puzzled scientists, but the explanation turns out to be simple.

by |March 28, 2022

Weddell Seal Population May Be Much Lower Than Previously Thought

High-resolution satellite images allowed researchers to do a more comprehensive head count than ever before, and revealed patterns in the seals’ distribution.

by |February 4, 2022

New Film Explores Combining Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science to Understand Waning Arctic Sea Ice

A launch event will include clips from the film; discussion by Iñupiaq elders, scientists and the filmmaker; and audience Q&A.

by |January 21, 2022
A polar bear with its cub.

You Asked: When Will Polar Bears Go Extinct?

A recent study provides a rough timeline, but there’s still time to save them if we cut our carbon emissions.

by Robert Newton |November 30, 2021

Scientists and Native People Jointly Study Sea-Ice Declines Threatening Seal Hunts

Seals have been a staple for the coastal village of Kotzebue for generations. Rapid changes in sea ice driven by ocean warmth are presenting a challenge for hunters.

by |October 14, 2021

Arctic Sea Ice May Make a Last Stand in This Remote Region. It May Lose the Battle.

Researchers have zeroed in on what they call the Last Ice Area, where the last year-round Arctic ice, and associated ecosystems may–or may not–survive in a warmer future.

by |October 12, 2021

Increasingly Mobile Sea Ice Means Arctic Neighbors May Pollute Each Others’ Waters

The movement of sea ice between Arctic countries is expected to significantly increase this century, raising the risk of more widely transporting pollutants like microplastics and oil, according to new research.

by |March 18, 2020
sunset in antarctica

Reflections from Antarctica: A Landscape in Flux

Working as an Antarctic field scientist, I witnessed the destruction provoked by a rapidly warming planet. But I also found inspiration.

by |January 16, 2018