Fast Facts
Using satellites, NOAA researchers closely study the ocean. Information gathered by satellites can tell us about ocean bathymetry, sea surface temperature, ocean color, coral reefs, and sea and lake ice.
Satellite-based passive microwave instruments have been used to determine sea ice extent since 1979.
Sea ice extent provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is available from 1979–2016 for the Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, and Globe.
