The Arctic sea ice has hit a new low for its annual peak, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), marking the lowest level in the 47-year satellite record.
On March 22, 2025, the maximum extent of Arctic sea ice was measured at 14.33 million square kilometers (5.53 million square miles), falling short of the previous record low of 14.41 million square kilometers set in 2017.
This record comes amid an ongoing climate crisis, with the start of 2025 seeing the warmest January on record and the third-warmest February. The polar regions continue to warm at rates several times faster than the global average, exacerbating the effects of human-driven climate change.
Walt Meier, a senior research scientist at NSIDC, highlighted that the new record low is a stark reminder of the significant changes in Arctic sea ice over recent decades. He stressed that the record is not just about the lowest extent but signals the continued, long-term decline of Arctic ice across all seasons.
This record-low Arctic sea ice follows a near-record low in the Antarctic, where the sea ice minimum reached 1.98 million square kilometers on March 1, 2025, tying with 2022 and 2024 for the second-lowest annual minimum in the satellite record.
In February, combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice cover plunged to a record low, as reported by both the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The loss of sea ice accelerates a vicious cycle of climate change. As the reflective ice melts, the darker ocean absorbs more of the sun’s energy, warming the water and driving further ice loss. This not only contributes to global warming but also disrupts weather patterns, ocean currents, and ecosystems, threatening species like polar bears, seals, and penguins.
The disappearing ice is also reshaping geopolitics, opening up new shipping lanes and attracting global interest, such as US President Donald Trump’s push to control Greenland, a Danish territory rich in resources.
The warming trend continues to outpace the targets of the Paris Agreement, with recent predictions showing that La Niña conditions, which help cool global temperatures, are likely to transition to neutral conditions in the coming months, signaling more warming ahead.
