Arctic Sea Ice 🧊
The frozen surface of the Arctic Ocean, which expands in winter and shrinks in summer.
📄 Educational Handout Available
Download the printable infographic for this habitat.
Climate & Environment
Extreme polar climate, with temperatures dropping well below -30°C in winter and experiencing months of total darkness.
Key Plants
Ice algae that grow on the underside of the sea ice, forming the base of the food web.
💡 Fun Facts
- Arctic sea ice shrinks in the summer and expands in the winter, acting like a giant, pulsing white mirror that reflects sunlight and cools the Earth.
- Unlike a penguin (which lives in the Antarctic), a polar bear's fur is actually hollow and transparent—it only looks white because it reflects the snow!
Key Creatures
Polar Bear
Ursus maritimus
How it survives here:
Uses the vast ice floes as a platform to hunt seals when they surface to breathe. Thick blubber and hollow hair keep it warm.
Ringed seal
How it survives here:
Uses strong claws to scratch and keep breathing holes open in the thick ice all winter.
Arctic fox
How it survives here:
Often follows polar bears out onto the sea ice to scavenge leftover food during the harsh winter.
Walrus
How it survives here:
Uses its long tusks to haul its massive body out of the water onto the ice.
Orca
How it survives here:
Hunts in packs and can create waves to wash seals off the ice floes.