"Arctic sea ice has recorded its smallest winter peak extent since satellite records began 47 years ago, new data reveals.

Provisional data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows that Arctic sea ice reached a winter maximum extent of 14.33m square kilometres (km2) last week.

This is 1.31m km2 below the 1981-2010 average maximum and 800,000km2 smaller than the previous low recorded in 2017, according to the data.

Dr Julienne Stroeve, a senior scientist at the NSIDC, tells Carbon Brief that such a small winter peak “doesn’t mean a record-low” summer minimum will necessarily follow in September.

But, she adds, it does “continue the overall long-term decline in the ice cover”."

Ayesha Tandon reports for Carbon Brief March 28, 2025. [2]

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"Arctic Sea Ice Hits Record Low For Its Usual Peak Growth Period" (AP) [3]