A Tale of Two Poles: Sea Ice in Antarctica Surged in September to Record Extent But Remained Low in the Arctic

Antarctic sea ice concentration from September 1 to September 30, 2014. The data come from the AMSR2 satellite instrument. (Source: NSIDC/University of Bremen) Even as climate change continues to be felt around the world, its impact in the Arctic and Antarctic are, in part, a tale of two poles. The National Snow and Ice Data Center is out today with its annual review of sea ice conditions, and in the Arctic the news is in keeping with what has happened in previous years: the geographic extent of this floating veneer of frozen sea water remains low.