Arctic sea ice closes the summer at 4.6 million square kilometres.
NASA Earth Observatory reported that Arctic sea ice reached its 2026 annual minimum on 12 September, covering an estimated 4.6 million square kilometres. The result ties 2008, 2010 and 2025 for the tenth-lowest minimum in the satellite record.
NASA Earth Observatory · published 7 Oct 2026 · minimum observed 12 Sep 2026WX original graphic · data: NASA Earth Observatory and NSIDC · not a navigation map