Sea ice plays many important roles for the global climate: Its white surface can reflect energy back into space, helping the planet cool. It also acts like a blanket for the ocean, insulating it and preventing ocean heat from reaching the atmosphere. Less sea ice means more heat goes in Earth’s systems, warming the atmosphere and the oceans.

Global sea ice hit a record low for February, with Arctic and Antarctic ice levels far below average. Rising global temperatures are driving ice loss, accelerating ocean warming and extreme weather patterns.

Just 5.53 million square miles of ice had formed as of March 22, the smallest maximum extent since satellite records began in the 1970s.