The following diagrams show the sea ice cover of the last years. Separated into the northern and southern hemisphere there will be also displayed the fraction which lies within the range of the polar night.

Arctic (North Pole)

Antarctic (South Pole)

Historical change of the sea ice cover

Since 1978 satellites are measuring the changes in sea ice cover in the Arctic and Antarctic. The long-term review shows a decline of the sea ice cover in the Arctic region. In the opposite case there is detectable an increase in sea ice covering the Antarctic region.

Also available the sea ice cover trends of all months:

  ▸ January   ▸ February   ▸ March   ▸ April   ▸ May   ▸ June   ▸ July   ▸ August   ▸ September   ▸ October   ▸ November   ▸ December

Arctic from 1978 to date (North Pole)

Antarctic from 1978 to date (South Pole)

Global total 1978 to date