sea ice

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

sea ice and albedo

decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent

sea ice and iceberg drift patterns

What would happen if Earth's temperature rose by 2 °C?

For Students

sea ice summary

Read Next

Sea shell of sea snail in close up showing damage and pitting.

Ocean Acidification: How Carbon Dioxide Is Hurting the Seas

World map. Continents. Oceans. Mendel thumb ok

Just How Many Oceans Are There?

Large ocean waves breaking on a stormy day. (wave; sea; whitecaps; storm)

Why Is There Fresh and Salt Water on Earth?

winter ice melting salt on the ground, pattern as background

Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

ripped torn flag, pirate, skull

Are There Laws on the High Seas?

Discover

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Titanic infographic. The 30th anniversary of its discovery is September 1, 2015. SPOTLIGHT VERSION.

Timeline of the Titanic’s Final Hours

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

New Zealand. Political/Physical map. Includes locator.

Where Is “Old Zealand”?

Lusitania sinking, illustration from The War of the Nations (New York), December 31, 1919. World War I, WWI. This image is one of three on the page. (See source file for the other two.)

7 of the World’s Deadliest Shipwrecks

Two chicks near an egg with a white background (poultry, chick, chickens, birds).

What Do Eggs Have to Do with Easter?

sea ice: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Weather tracker: Arctic winter sea ice at record low in 2025, scientists say • Mar. 31, 2025, 7:16 AM ET (The Guardian)

Global Sea Ice Hits a New Low • Mar. 28, 2025, 12:14 AM ET (New York Times)

Photos and Videos

sea ice and albedo

decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent

sea ice and iceberg drift patterns

What would happen if Earth's temperature rose by 2 °C?

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Topics

ice pack ice marine ice fast ice pressure ridge ice floe seawater ocean glacier permafrost iceberg ice in lakes and rivers polynya ocean current ocean basin Why Is The Ocean Blue?ocean warming oceanic crust

Quiz

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

Winter Weather Words Quiz