Categories: Cryosphere Capsules

2026 Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Among Lowest on Record

National Snow and Ice Data Center, March 2026

As of March 2026, satellite observations indicate that this year’s Arctic sea ice maximum extent is on track to place lowest on record, following very closely with the record-breaking low set in 2025. Sea ice grows throughout the winter as temperatures freeze before reaching its annual maximum in March or early April. Today, Arctic winter sea ice extent is currently well below the long-term median and outside much of the historical range, continuing an ongoing trend of reduced sea ice coverage. Danish Meteorological Institute models find that present-day Arctic sea ice is less than two meters thick in most regions, aside from thicker areas along the northern coast of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Total Arctic sea ice volume in March 2026 is currently the lowest on record, even lower than last year and about 15% lower than mid-March 2024.

NSIDC Tracking Tool | DMI Arctic Sea Ice Thickness | Summary by Climate Specialists at University of Fairbanks, Alaska

Pam Pearson

Recent Posts

Warming Near 1.5°C Commits Coastal Louisiana to Substantial Sea-Level Rise

Nature Sustainability, 4 May 2026 Sediment records from the Last Inter-Glacial (LIG) period suggest that…

17 hours ago

Over Four Decades of Winter Arctic Sea Ice Loss Primarily Driven by GHG Emissions

NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science, 20 May 2026 Human-caused warming has been the primary driver…

17 hours ago

Sudden Meltwater Lake Drainage Speeds Up Greenland Ice Loss

Nature Communications, 27 May 2026 Sudden drainage of meltwater lakes through water-filled fractures can locally…

17 hours ago

Sea Ice Loss Triggers Major Shift in Arctic Ocean Ecosystems from Lower Nitrogen Levels

Nature Communications Earth and Environment, 28 May 2026 Rapid sea ice loss is driving a…

17 hours ago

SB64 Video of the Week: ‘Friends of Science’ Press Conference

Negotiators and high-level representatives from several major negotiating groups in the UNFCCC (AOSIS, represented by…

17 hours ago

SB64 Side Event on Cryosphere and Overshoot: Implications of Peak CO2 and Temperature for Global Cryosphere

Monday June 8th, 16:30-17:45 CEST in Room Kaminzimmer, World Conference Center (WCC), Bonn Dear Cryosphere…

3 weeks ago