Summer sea ice in the Arctic can be seen in this MetOp-A image, acquired 11 August 2014.

Recent observations indicate that the sea ice extent in the Arctic remains higher than in 2012, when levels reached their lowest since records began. Scientists do not expect the melt season to cause levels to reach such lows as seen in 2012, either.

Despite this, the overall extent of sea ice is still seeing a reduction in long-term studies, with the amount much lower than it was when records began several decades ago.

See some studies of sea ice in the Arctic from EUMETSAT and NASA.

View the full resolution image.

Credit: EUMETSAT 2014