Satellites have continuously monitored Arctic sea ice since 1979. In recent years, scientists have noticed a rapid decline of the perennial ice cover. Perennial ice, which persists over multiple years, is the oldest and thickest sea ice. It is disappearing faster than the younger and thinner ice at the ice cap edges. This animation shows the perennial Arctic sea ice from 1980 to 2012. The gray disk at the North Pole indicates a lack of satellite data. Animation courtesy of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
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