Melting glaciers and sea ice

Statistics report on melting glaciers and sea ice worldwide

Melting glaciers and sea ice

From reflecting excess heat into space to storing a significant amount of the planet's fresh water, glaciers and sea ice play an important role on Earth. Alarmingly, the cryosphere is melting at higher rates each year, caused primarily by climate change. This report presents graphs and tables about the melting of glaciers and sea ice, focusing in the scale of the issue and direct impacts.

This report is part of a series of reports on the impacts of climate change.

Table of contents

Overview

5
  • Basic Statistic Global ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
  • Basic Statistic Estimated change in global surface temperature 2021-2100, by scenario
  • Premium Statistic Freshwater resources distribution worldwide 2023
  • Premium Statistic Global area covered by glaciers, by region 2024
  • Premium Statistic Biggest glaciers in the world 2022

Scale

10
  • Premium Statistic Cumulative glacial ice loss worldwide per year 1970-2023
  • Premium Statistic Glacial ice loss 2019-2021, by region
  • Premium Statistic Annual ice mass loss in Greenland and Antarctica 2002-2024
  • Premium Statistic Ice mass variation in Antarctica 2002-2024
  • Premium Statistic Ice mass variation in Greenland 2002-2024
  • Basic Statistic Global sea ice extent per month 1980-2024
  • Basic Statistic Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent per month 1980-2024
  • Basic Statistic Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent per month 1980-2024
  • Basic Statistic Maximum Arctic sea ice extent 1979-2024
  • Premium Statistic Northern Hemisphere's snow cover extent in December 1970-2023

Effects

6
  • Premium Statistic Lowest maximum Arctic sea ice extents 2024
  • Premium Statistic Lowest minimum Arctic sea ice extents 2023
  • Premium Statistic Share of global glacial mass loss 2100, by warming scenario
  • Premium Statistic Global sea level rise contributions 2100, by glacier region
  • Basic Statistic Thawed permafrost area 2030, by scenario
  • Premium Statistic Population of polar bears and sea ice loss 2021, by region

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