Arctic ice isn't just melting — it's also getting younger

(Image credit: YouTube.com/NOAA Climate.gov)

In 2012, the extent of Arctic sea ice reached a record low, beating the previous mark set in 2007. One underappreciated aspect of that, illustrated in an interesting but unsettling animation from NOAA, is that Arctic ice is getting younger.

This accelerates ice loss, because older ice is stronger and more compact than the younger stuff, which crumbles and melts more easily. Check it out — and keep your eyes peeled for 2007, which obliterated much of the oldest ice. — Ryan Cooper

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Ryan Cooper

Ryan Cooper is a national correspondent at TheWeek.com. His work has appeared in the Washington Monthly, The New Republic, and the Washington Post.