Arctic sea ice at record low in March 2026
Arctic sea ice follows a seasonal cycle of growth and retreat, influencing local ecosystems and global ocean dynamics. It typically reaches its annual maximum extent in March, after expanding during the cold winter months and before retreating as temperatures rise in spring. However, recent observations indicate a significant departure from historical averages.
According to EUMETSAT OSI SAF data, from 15 and 28 March 2026, the Arctic sea ice extent remained at its lowest levels ever recorded for this time of year, highlighting a significant reduction compared to the climatological average.
This data visualisation, based on Copernicus Climate Change Service and OSI SAF data, comprises two panels. The graph on the left shows daily Arctic sea ice extent from 1980 to 28 March 2026: grey lines represent each year from 1980 to 2025, while the red line tracks 2026, showing a record low for this time of year during the second half of March. The map on the right shows Arctic sea ice concentration on 28 March 2026, with the red line marking the 1981–2010 median ice edge indicating the extent typically expected at this time of year.
Copernicus data support continuous monitoring of sea ice dynamics and inform climate assessments, maritime navigation, and polar environmental management.
