Arctic sea ice hits 10th-lowest minimum; 20-year stretch shows persistent decline
NASA and NSIDC report Sept. 12 minimum tied with 2008, 2010, and 2025; last two decades mark lowest extents in 48-year satellite record.
What to know
- Arctic sea ice reached its 2026 minimum on September 12 at 1.78 million square miles, tying for 10th-lowest in the 48-year satellite record.
- All 20 lowest annual Arctic sea ice minimums in the satellite record have occurred in the past 20 years, reflecting a sustained downward trend of 11.8 percent per decade.
- Antarctic sea ice also shows concerning patterns, with a third-lowest maximum likely this year, though scientists caution year-to-year variability makes long-term trend assessment difficult.
“Those types of things happen all the time. But the magnitude of it certainly is unusual.”
Walt Meier, Senior research scientist at NSIDC · NASA ↗
Walt Meier Senior research scientist at NSIDCLinette Boisvert Sea ice scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterNASA and National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) Research institutions tracking polar sea ice
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Scientists note 20-year pattern of historically low Arctic ice extents
Analysis confirms that all 20 lowest annual Arctic sea ice minimums in the satellite record have occurred in the past 20 years, with a downward trend of 11.8 percent per decade relative to the 1981–2010 average—equivalent to an annual loss of approximately 73,200 square kilometers.
“The past 20 years, from 2007 through 2026, have produced the 20 lowest annual Arctic sea ice minimum extents observed since continuous satellite measurements began in late 1978.”
— NASA and NSIDC -
first by NASA breaking, 11h ago · also NASA
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It looks like the Arctic melt season is done, with Arctic sea-ice extent hitting its annual minimum on Sept. 13th at 4,458,885 km², the 11th lowest minimum on record. For those who have been waiting for a Blue Ocean Event since 2012, there's always next year. Stay tuned!
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🚨 It's official - 2026 observed the 10th lowest annual minimum #Arctic sea ice extent (statistical tie). My next climate viz blog will focus on this past summer season. This minimum was set 2 days earlier than average. For more information: @nsidc.bsky.social at
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Antarctic sea ice reaches potential maximum, approaching third-lowest on record — Antarctic sea ice likely reached its maximum on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometers. If confirmed, this would be the third-lowest Antarctic sea ice maximum on record, continuing a pattern of lower maxima in recent years.
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Minimum reached two days earlier than historical average — If September 12 holds as the minimum date, the 2026 minimum was reached two days earlier than the 1981–2010 median minimum date of September 14. The measurement sits 1.21 million square kilometers above the 2012 record low.
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Arctic sea ice reaches annual minimum at 1.78 million square miles — NASA and NSIDC confirm Arctic sea ice hit its annual minimum extent on September 12 at 4.6 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles), tying 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the nearly 48-year satellite record.