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Sea ice is found in remote polar oceans. On average, sea ice covers about 25 million square kilometers (9,652,553 square miles) of the earth, or about two-and-a-half times the area of Canada. Because most of us do not live in the polar regions, we may live for several decades and never see sea ice. Although it may not directly affect us, it is a critical component of our planet because it influences climate, wildlife, and people who live in the Arctic. "All About Sea Ice" offers a glimpse of the characteristics and different forms of sea ice, why it is so important to our environment, and popular scientific methods for studying it. Sample images from data illustrate the type of information scientists seek to learn about sea ice. If you want a more in-depth, scientific discussion on the thermodynamics and physics of sea ice, visit the "Processes" section. Finally, we describe how sea ice affected explorers who struggled to reach the poles. |
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