![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/B2B0C72C-8D20-4731-9B12-D240EEDCA3DA/HRJNFY.jpg)
Arctic Minimum Sea Ice: 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010
Composite image of the Arctic minimum sea ice in the years 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010. Satellite-based passive microwave images of the sea ice have provided a reliable tool for continuously monitoring changes in the Arctic ice since 1979. Every summer the Arctic ice cap melts down to what scientists call its "minimum" before colder weather begins to cause ice cover to increase. The ice parameters derived from satellite ice concentration data that are most relevant to climate change studies are sea ice extent and sea ice area.
Size: 10200px × 1434px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 20th, 21st, annual, arctic, area, cap, center, century, change, climate, climatological, climatology, composite, concentration, data, extent, flight, goddard, gsfc, ice, ice:, image, images, levels, measurement, measuring, meteorological, meteorology, microwave, minimum, monitoring, parameters, passive, satellite, satellite-based, science, sea, space, studio, visualization