Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Another Record Low

On March 7, 2017, Arctic sea ice reached its annual wintertime maximum extent, according to scientists at the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and NASA. The Arctic sea ice extent set a record low after a warm winter. Combining the Arctic and Antarctic numbers shows that the planet’s global sea ice levels on Feb. 13 were at their lowest point since satellites began to continuously measure sea ice in 1979.

Music is Crystal Light by Michael Holborn [PRS] and William Henries [PRS]

Credits: Kathryn Mersmann (producer), Maria-Jose Vinas Garcia (writer) and Lori Perkins (visualizer)

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Kathryn Mersmann

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[HeliosphanXtal]

I am baffled by the hostility towards Nasa and earth sciences in general in the comments section.
Sometimes I think we are going backwards with mankind in terms of intelligence; but probably its just because these days everyone can drop their (uninformed) opinions all around the net. Lets hope its just that...lets hope we still move forward.

[alexanderlinderson]

Keep up the good work! The people needs to know what's up.

[joeschmoe]

I hope that NASA continues to show a full balance and scope of the issue both in time scales and spatial domains. For instance, yes this year we saw a dramatic low glacial minimum at both poles - but it looks like Greenland might've seen its mildest net melt in decades? And might see a surface mass balance gain for the year?

The fact that it seems we only hear of negative news about climate change and never positive makes it very suspect - especially when it has and continues to be used as a political instrument.

The Democratic Party of the United States has aligned itself with many anti-capitalistic forces and for this reason - for climate scientists to align themselves politically with this party is to also align with so many other political controversies. I will assert here and now based on what evidence I have read about the potential for sea level rise by 2100 - the near-term politicization of science, increasing punishment of the world economy, and deep pessimism constantly bludgeoned in our collective psyche - is far worse than any outcome due from climate change by year 2100 or even 2200 - at least any confident predictions I've studied.

Science advocacy and alarmism is creating institutional biases - and when it comes to ever increasingly hyper-complex studies, such biases are potentially dangerous. For example - a climate change measure and prediction might lead high energy taxes and thus the slow down in the development of the livelihood of billions of people - the quality of life for those billions then not outpacing world population growth itself - and dramatically increasing the likelihood of substantial military conflict.

World population must be urbanized for it to become stabilized and the more we stifle global economic development with unnecessary obstacles such as intentionally-punishing energy taxes - we only increase environmental and sociological catastrophe down the road.

This is why it is so troubling science has become so politicized - though it has led people to become more skeptical of it. No one should ever believe science because a scientist told them to, no one should ever "believe" science period.

It is the use of the word "belief" within scientific circles, news releases, and "celebrity scientists" which has confused the public. There are no beliefs in science. Only variances of records of evidence. "Scientists believe..." should never be uttered - despite it being so absolutely common - especially in the sensationalist, anti-U.S. press.

It is up to you NASA to give us all sides and please do give the "positive data" of climate science as well. I am tired of having to find this data myself independently which then only creates more suspicion of the "institutions" which leave it out.

[LetzBeaFranque]

Lowest since satellite tracking began tracking in 1979 - pretty small sample for a doomsday prediction.

[xfranro]

Why when comes to show the North Pole and Antartic the NASA showes only with animation film computers and not with real pictures or films from the satelites? And when they show some pictures half . I mean does not seems real with all these tecnologies.

[fastm]

It is not intended to live on this Beautiful Earth FOREVER... Sad to see and Sad for those who will be dealing with increasing global warming...But HEY.... Who gives a CRAP I love my M///3 and my cell phone and my tablet's and my plastic dishes.... Let's all live in Indian huts and live completely off the land... Yeah right.... That will never happen... Anyway carry on with your devices on ✋ as I will....

[DavidReesendA]

And no one talks about the Doubling up on the Antarctica Ice? How come????

[estefanello]

Don't worry, in south america we just had one of the coldest summers ever.

[O_W_Grant]

Кто подскажет, как называется мультфильм?

[kulik]

Ну вот, скоро нам хана!))) Сами виноваты, только деньги на уме! Копали, Взрывали, Изучали не думая о последствиях и не следя за экологической картиной!!!

[PoeCompany]

good we don't need the ice... once it's gone we can settle in the south pole