Key take-aways
Arctic
- On 12 September 2024, the Arctic sea ice extent has likely reached its annual minimum – 3.90 million km2, with a loss of 1.74 million km2 (30%) compared to the long-term average (1993-2010).
- In September 2024, the Arctic sea ice extent was near the historical records reached in 2012 and 2020 for the same month.
- Sea ice volume reached 2.84 km³, a loss of 9.91 km³ (77%), compared to the long-term average (1993-2010).
- The southern route of the Northwest Passage is now ice-free, enabling ship navigation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The northern route remains covered in sea ice.
Antarctic
- Sea Ice extent in the Southern Ocean has likely reached its annual maximum at 17.09 million km2 – 1.76 million km2 (9%) less than the long-term average (1993-2010).
- In 2024, the Antarctic sea ice extent annual maximum is the second lowest after 2023.
- Sea ice volume reached 11.58 km³ – a loss of 5.95 km³ (33%) compared to the long-term average. This value is close to the 2022 and 2023 historical records.
2024 has yet seen a drastic loss in sea ice at global scale – caused by major melting occurring in the past years during the northern hemisphere spring (in the Arctic), and the significant lack of sea ice growth during the southern hemisphere autumn (in the Southern Ocean). The global sea ice extent and volumes follow similar values to the historical record of 2023. The global sea ice volume reached a new record low in 2024.
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Extent
Figure 1a (Left): Arctic sea ice extent (red) for 12 September 2024. The black line represents the 1993-2010 average (climatology) for the same day of the year.
Figure 1b (Right): Arctic sea ice concentration (red) for 24 September 2024. The yellow line represents the 1993-2010 average (climatology) for the same day of the year. Data from the Global 1/12° forecasting (Lellouche, 2018) and reanalysis (Lellouche, 2022) systems. *
Daily Arctic Sea Ice Extent
Daily Arctic Sea Ice Volume
Annual Antarctic Sea Ice Maximum Extent
Daily Antarctic Sea Ice Extent
Daily Antarctic Sea Ice Volume
Global Sea Ice Extent and Volume
Definitions:
- Sea ice extent – area covered by a significant amount of sea ice, at least 15% sea ice concentration (km²).
- Sea ice concentration – percentage of sea ice cover within the data grid cell.
Notes:
Products and data used:
- GLORYS12V1 global ocean eddy-resolving (1/12° horizontal resolution, 50 vertical levels) reanalysis covering the altimetry (1993 onward). https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00021
- The Operational Mercator global ocean analysis and forecast system at 1/12 degree. https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00016
This Mercator Ocean bulletin was developed by Clement Bricaud, Gilles Garric, Andreia Carvalho and Gratianne Quade.
References:
*Image citation: European Union, Copernicus Marine Service Data 2024 I © Mercator Ocean
All images in this article can be used freely and should be cited with the information above.
More on the topic:
Antarctic Sea Ice Reaches Lows Never Before Observed – Mercator Ocean (mercator-ocean.eu)
Arctic Sea Ice Bulletin March 2024