Second Lowest on Record

The Arctic sea ice reached its 2020 minimum extent of 1.44 million square miles on September 15, marking the second lowest extent in the nearly 42-year satellite record. This loss is driven by factors including a Siberian heat wave and a reinforcing feedback loop where the darker ocean surface absorbs more heat, contributing to the Arctic warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. The 14 lowest extents in the satellite era have all occurred within the last 14 years, with the record low set in 2012.

• On September 15, Arctic sea ice reached its 2020 minimum extent of 1.44 million square miles, which is the second lowest in the nearly 42-year satellite record from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This extent represents approximately 46% of the area of the 48 contiguous states.
• The 2020 minimum extent is approximately 969,000 square miles lower than the 1981-2010 average minimum extent, a difference comparable in size to the combined area of Alaska, Texas, and Montana. The 14 lowest extents recorded in the satellite era have all occurred in the last 14 years, with the absolute record low occurring in 2012.
• Arctic ice loss is creating a reinforcing heat spiral where the exposure of the darker ocean surface leads to increased heat absorption and further ice loss. This feedback loop, combined with temperatures 14°F to 18°F warmer than average and an early melt season triggered by a Siberian heat wave, contributes to the Arctic warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet.

APA

Climate Central (2020). Second Lowest on Record. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2020-arctic-sea-ice-minimum

Chicago

Climate Central. Second Lowest on Record. 2020. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2020-arctic-sea-ice-minimum.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Second Lowest on Record |date=21 September 2020 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2020-arctic-sea-ice-minimum |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2020second, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Second Lowest on Record}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2020-arctic-sea-ice-minimum}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }