Unyielding Climate Science: The Data That Defies Melting Away Like Ice

Let’s dive into data.

Data is simply information collected through various means. This includes satellites, weather instruments like thermometers, and other measuring tools. Over time, these measurements provide insights into our planet’s patterns, such as temperature changes, ice cover, and rainfall. When scientists, students, or even everyday citizens gather this information, it becomes a valuable resource for all of us.

What’s important here is that scientific data is objective. It reveals the reality of our environment, unaffected by opinions or political agendas.

Consider the average temperatures in New York City for January. From 1970 to 2025, the average temperature has risen from about 30°F to around 35°F. This is a significant change, marking a 4.6°F increase over 50 years. It’s not just weather; it’s climate change in action!

Another crucial aspect is the state of our glaciers. These massive ice formations are melting, contributing to rising sea levels. Scientists worldwide track glacier mass yearly. For example, a bar chart from Climate Central shows data from 1950 to 2023. Most of the time, the glaciers lose mass, with only five years of growth in a 73-year span. The downward trend indicates an alarming acceleration in ice loss.

The bar chart presents glacier loss in metric tons, making it easier to understand the vast amounts of ice disappearing from our planet.

Let’s shift our focus to another ice-related topic: the age of sea ice in the Arctic. This data, developed from satellite measurements since the early 1980s, tracks how old the ice is over the years. Unlike seasonal ice that melts every spring, Arctic ice can last for several years. As temperatures rise, older ice diminishes, leaving mainly younger, thinner ice. A graph shows this decline clearly, with older ice almost vanishing by 2020.

This data is measured in millions of square miles, highlighting a significant loss of ice. The pattern clearly illustrates warming in the Arctic region.

Another important measurement is the extent of Arctic sea ice. Data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center shows that current ice levels are drastically below historical averages. The graph tracks ice extent from November to March, peaking in mid-winter. This year’s ice levels are far lower than any levels recorded over the past 45 years.

So, is our planet warming? Absolutely.

For those who want to learn more about climate change and its effects, here are a few book recommendations:

• “When the Ice Is Gone” by Paul Bierman
• “The Ice at The End of The World” by Jon Gertner
• “The End of Ice” by Dahr Jamal

Understanding data and its implications is vital. It tells us a lot about what’s happening to our world today.