Arctic sea ice in winter has once again begun to shrink rapidly. A study by the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre reveals that the period of slower melting observed in the early 2020s has come to an end, according to PNAS.
Between 2024 and 2025, the area of Arctic ice at its winter maximum declined by 5.8% — the largest single-year drop since satellite monitoring began in 1978. In 2026, the ice extent increased slightly but still ranked as the second-lowest on record.
Scientists believe the earlier stabilization was only a temporary pause within the broader, long-term trend of ice cover reduction driven by global warming. Models indicate that winter ice volume will remain at lower levels in the years ahead.
Australian climatologist Andrea Taschetto stated that the current El Niño event is likely to peak in December 2026.
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