Arctic 2010 Sea Ice Maximum, Visualized

Kathryn Hansen

NASA's Earth Science News Team

Sea ice coverage over the Arctic Ocean oscillates over the course of a year, growing through winter and reaching a maximum extent by February or March. This year, Arctic sea ice grew to levels beyond those measured in recent years but slightly below average when compared to the 30-year satellite record.What does the 2010 sea ice extent look like and how is NASA studying it? To find out, view NASA's updated sea ice animation and watch a video interview with polar scientist Lora Koenig of NASA's Goddard Space Flight center in Greenbelt, Md.Arctic sea ice and seasonal land cover change are shown from Sept. 1, 2009, when sea ice in the Arctic was near its minimum extent, through March 30, 2010, the day before sea ice reached its 2010 maximum extent. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio.On April 2, 2010, NASA Goddard cryospheric scientist Lora Koenig spoke with TV stations across the United States regarding NASA's Operation IceBridge mission and the 2010 Arctic sea ice maximum. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center