Sea Ice Extent

July's Northern Hemisphere
Sea Ice Extent plot

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), the July 2009 Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent—which is measured from passive microwave instruments onboard NOAA satellites—was 8.8 million square kilometers (12.7 percent below the 1979–2000 average), resulting in the third lowest July sea ice extent on record, behind 2007 and 2006. This was the 13^th consecutive July with sea ice extent below average. July 1996 was the last year that had above-average sea extent. NSIDC reported unusually low sea ice extent in the Kara Sea, Baffin Bay, and along the Russian coast. Meanwhile, the southern Hudson Bay had significant above-average ice extent during July. July Arctic sea ice extent has decreased at an average rate of 6.1 percent per decade since 1979.

July's Southern Hemisphere
Sea Ice Extent plot

Meanwhile, the July 2009 Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was 1.5 percent above the 1979–2000 average. This was the tenth largest sea ice extent in July. Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent for July has increased at an average rate of 0.8 percent per decade.

For further information on the Northern and Southern Hemisphere snow and ice conditions, please visit the NSIDC News page, provided by NOAA's National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

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