Since 2008, the annual Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) has provided an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas about the September minimum sea ice extent. Starting in 2014, the SIO was managed by the Sea Ice Prediction Network project; from 2018-2022, the SIO was part of Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2). SIPN2 funding expired in December 2022. A 2024 Sea Ice Outlook is being funded by in-kind support from UW, NSIDC, UAF, and ARCUS.
The SIO typically produces reports in June, July, August, and recently, September containing a variety of perspectives on Arctic sea ice—from observations of current conditions, to advanced numerical models, to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Post-season reports provide in-depth analyses of factors driving sea ice, as well as explore the scientific methods for predicting seasonal ice extent. During 2024, the SIO will not feature monthly reports, but does plan for a Post-Season Report.
Information on how the SIO began is available here.