A view of Earth from space, centered on the Arctic. The Arctic Ocean has been mapped in an unprecedented manner by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif. Using advanced radar that sees through all weather conditions, researchers can determine how the Earth's warming may be changing the sea ice cover. Sea ice in the polar region is a large barometer of global climate conditions. Visualization Date: August 21, 2000.