Arctic sea ice at record low

Photo: The Canadian Press

Arctic sea ice is at a record low for the third straight year.

The measurements from the U.S.-based National Snow and Ice Data Center say the ice reached its maximum extent on March 7.

It was the lowest level in the 38-year history of satellite record-keeping.

Other data finds the ice was also thinner than usual.

Recent research suggests much of the shrinkage is due to natural variability, but scientists still attribute most of the loss to climate change.

Sea ice is crucial to Arctic life — from polar bears to plankton — and is believed to influence southern weather patterns.

The Snow and Ice Data Center is funded by an organization threatened by proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration.