The extent of Arctic sea ice has set a new record low.
The U.S.-based National Snow and Ice Data Center says the ice appears to have reached its maximum spread for the winter.
It says this year's ice is about seven per cent below the 30-year average.
It's also about one per cent below the previous record low, which was set in 2011.
Sea ice has been shrinking at an average rate of about five per cent each decade.
The centre says there's still a chance the ice could grow, but the monitoring agency believes the melting season has begun.
