The total area of the Arctic Ocean that was at least 15% ice covered each September from 1979–2023. Since 1980, the amount of ice that survives the summer has declined by 13.1 percent per decade. Data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
Sea ice concentration for September 19, 2023, compared to the 1981-2010 average extent for that day (gold line). It was the sixth smallest summer minimum on record. NOAA Climate.gov image, based on data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).