Arctic winter sea ice hits record low as slowdown ends

A new scientific study has confirmed that a two-decade slowdown in the decline of Arctic sea ice has ended, with winter ice cover plunging to record lows in recent years. The research, led by the University of Southampton, reveals that the period from 2005 to 2024, which showed no statistically significant decline in winter sea ice extent, was a temporary reprieve rather than a sustained trend reversal.

According to the analysis, the Arctic experienced the largest year-to-year wintertime drop in sea ice ever recorded by satellites between 2024 and 2025, with ice extent during the peak winter months of February and March falling by 5.8 percent. While ice levels recovered slightly in 2026, they remained the second-lowest extent on record. Satellite measurements of Arctic sea ice began in 1979, and the area covered by ice in September, when it reaches its annual minimum, has halved since that time.

Lead author Dr. Duo Chan stated that this sharp drop alters the interpretation of recent Arctic changes. What appeared to be a pause in the early 2020s now appears to have been a temporary slowdown within a longer-term decline driven by global warming. He warned that short-term...