Record winter sea ice decline ends Arctic melt slowdown
The largest year-to-year wintertime reduction on record has ended a period of slowed sea ice loss, according to new research.
Kirill Zhbakov
A previously recorded slowdown in Arctic sea ice decline has ended, according to researchers. The pause, which occurred during the early 2020s, was broken by record lows in sea ice extent observed in 2025 and early 2026.
The year-to-year wintertime reduction in Arctic sea ice was the largest ever recorded.
According to the research team, the largest year-to-year wintertime reduction on record occurred. The pause in winter sea ice decline that had been observed since the early 2020s ended due to these record lows.
No statistically significant decline in sea ice extent was recorded between 2005 and 2024.
A study published last summer had found that sea ice melt had slowed over the past 20 years, with no statistically significant decline in extent from 2005 to 2024.
The new analysis is led by the University of Southampton in collaboration with the National Oceanography Center (NOC), according to the research team.
The findings come as scientists closely monitor Arctic changes, which have global implications for climate and weather patterns.
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