NASA: Arctic Sea Ice Extent Decreasing 13% Per Decade
- A Small
- A Medium
- A Bigger
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) notes that the surface area of Arctic sea ice is decreasing by 13% per decade compared to the 1981-2010 average.
The surface area of Arctic sea ice was reported at 4.72 million square kilometers, up 0.9 square kilometers or 23.56% compared to 2020.
Despite this increase, the ice surface area continues to show a declining trend since 2018. From 1979 to 2021, the lowest Arctic sea ice extent was recorded in 2012 at 3.39 million square kilometers.
Rising atmospheric and water temperatures ultimately cause ice melt, rising sea levels, and contribute to triggering larger and more destructive natural disasters.
If this ice surface disappears, more sunlight will be absorbed by the darker ocean surface, further driving warming.
"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."
Related Data
Latest Data Stories
Trending Topics
Popular Data