Arctic sea ice has reached its minimum extent for 2018, tying with 2008 and 2010 for the sixth lowest minimum in the nearly 40-year satellite record, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The Arctic has been losing upwards of 13% of its ice-covered area each decade, with the loss of multi-year ice having implications beyond the region. As ice is replaced by open water, more heat is added to the Arctic, which in turn affects the polar jet stream, potentially leading to more frequent and severe weather events such as droughts, heat waves and heavy rains.