Arctic ice reached its seasonal minimum in 2025, with scientists recording one of the smallest ice covers since 1978.
As of late summer 2025, the area of Arctic sea ice has shrunk to 4.6 million square kilometers. This data was provided by NASA and the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This is the tenth-smallest extent ever recorded by satellite observations and is comparable to the level seen in 2008.
Scientists point out that the minimum extent of Arctic ice is recorded every year in September, when melting reaches its peak. Since satellite observations began in 1978, experts have noted a steady trend of decreasing ice cover amid global warming.
“Although the Arctic ice extent did not set a new record minimum this year, it continues to be in line with the overall downward trend,” said Nathan Kurtz, head of the NASA Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory.
The record for the smallest ice extent was set in 2012. At that time, melting was accelerated not only by high temperatures but also by anomalous weather conditions. The process in 2025 was similar to the dynamics of that year, but a slowdown in melting in August was not enough to change the overall picture.
According to experts, the gradual reduction in the extent of Arctic sea ice is a clear indicator of climate change and directly impacts global climate processes.
