ESA - Observing the Earth - Understanding Our Planet - Arctic ice on the verge of another all-time low

Space and Earth Monitoring

About Observing the Earth

How does Earth Observation work?How to get Earth observation data Integrating Earth Observation in your job Earth Observation users speak

Opportunities with us

Education & training International cooperation Milestones & announcements EO conferences organised by ESA

Multimedia

Image Gallery Video Gallery Online resources RSS feeds

Services

Calendar

Article Images

Arctic ice on the verge of another all-time low

28 August 2008

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES GIF (Size: 17 965 kb)

This animation is comprised of Envisat ASAR mosaics of the Arctic Ocean and highlights the changes in sea ice between June and mid-August 2008. The dark grey colour represents ice-free areas while blue represents areas covered with sea ice. The Arctic is one of the most inaccessible regions on Earth, so obtaining measurements of sea ice was difficult before the advent of satellites.

Credits: ESA

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES GIF (Size: 1409 kb)

HI-RES TIFF (Size: 4233 kb)

Envisat ASAR mosaic from mid-August 2008 showing an almost ice-free Northwest Passage. The direct route through the Northwest Passage is highlighted in the picture by an orange line. The orange dotted line shows the indirect route, called the Amundsen Northwest Passage, which has been passable for almost a month.

Credits: ESA

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 260 kb)

The German research vessel Polarstern off the coast of Greenland at the beginning of August 2008 before going on to journey through the Northwest Passage.

Credits: M. Graeve, Alfred Wegener Institute

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES GIF (Size: 1692 kb)

HI-RES TIFF (Size: 5970 kb)

ESA’s Envisat ASAR data mosaic showing sea-ice coverage as of mid-August 2008. The red line indicates the all-time minimum Arctic sea-ice coverage in September 2007. The Arctic is one of the most inaccessible regions on Earth, so obtaining measurements of sea ice was difficult before the advent of satellites.

Credits: ESA

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES GIF (Size: 1172 kb)

HI-RES TIFF (Size: 5270 kb)

Envisat's ASAR image acquired on 25 August 2008 highlighting the open Parry Channel - part of the direct route through the Northwest Passage.

Credits: ESA