Arctic Winter Sea Ice Reaches Record Low for Second Year, Study by NASA and NSIDC Finds

A study by NASA and the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center reveals that Arctic winter sea ice extent on March 15 was 14.29 million square km, nearly matching the record low of 14.31 million square km. This marks the second consecutive year of record low winter sea ice levels, continuing a long-term decline observed since 1979. The extent is approximately 1.3 million square km below the 1981-2010 average.

Published Mar 28, 2026

On March 15, Arctic sea ice extent measured 14.29 million square km, statistically tied for the lowest winter maximum extent since satellite monitoring began in 1979, according to a study by NASA and the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

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This marks the second consecutive year of record low levels, with the current extent about 1.3 million square km below the average from 1981 to 2010. The peak ice coverage reflects a continuing long-term downward trend, as less new ice has formed in recent years, contributing to a decline in multi-year ice.