The Arctic sea ice experienced its least extensive growth during winter since records started 47 years ago. Scientists stated on Thursday that this is an indicator of global climate change with potential worldwide impacts.

Each year, the Arctic experiences its greatest extent of sea ice in March before beginning a half-year thaw period. According to data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, this past weekend’s highest recorded level stood at 14.33 million square kilometers—a figure approximately 80,000 square kilometers less than the smallest prior peak documented in 2017.

That’s a discrepancy as large as the state of California.

Warming temperatures are responsible for the decrease in ice,” stated ice data scientist Walt Meier. “Sea ice, specifically, is quite sensitive… at 31 degrees Fahrenheit you can go ice skating, but at 33 degrees it’s more like swimming.

Dissolving sea ice serves as an early alert system.

Jennifer Francis, a researcher with the Woodwell Climate Research Center based in Cape Cod, stated that this serves as another loud warning signal, akin to a repeatedly broken record.

“Disappearing

sea ice

“It’s a notably concerning narrative since it genuinely serves as an early warning system highlighting several difficult-to-detect transformations,” Francis stated via email.

Scientists have stated that the increasing warmth in the Arctic—a place experiencing temperatures rising at four times the global average—impacts climate patterns globally. The decreasing disparity in pressure and temperature between northern and southern regions contributes to this effect.

weakens the jet stream

, causing it to shift further south, leading to colder outbreaks and storms that frequently remain stationary, resulting in increased rainfall or snowfall, as stated by the Snow and Ice Centre and Francis.

“The milder winter air temperature over the Arctic Circle does affect extensive weather systems that can have implications for people living outside this region,” stated Julienne Stroeve, an ice researcher from the University of Manitoba.

Stroeve pointed out that with regard to the reduced Arctic sea ice, it’s not just about having less overall; the thinner sections can melt much faster during the coming summer months. However, she warned that low winter coverage does not necessarily predict minimal summertime extent.

Melting Arctic sea ice

– primarily during the summertime – is causing the polar bear population to become smaller, weaker, and more hungry since they depend on sea ice for hunting, according to scientists. Additionally, winter sea ice plays a crucial role for fisheries and seal pups, as mentioned by Meier.

Arctic sea ice is decreasing throughout all four seasons.

The largest extent of arctic sea ice ever recorded started in 1979, with measurements reaching 16.64 million square kilometers. This indicates that from the time satellite monitoring commenced, the maximum coverage of arctic sea ice during winter has decreased by an area roughly equivalent to the size of Pakistan.

When winter sea ice thrives, it can expand beyond halfway towards the equator from the poles, reaching as far as Japan, China, and even Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence, according to Meier.

Meier stated that the extent of sea ice is decreasing during every season, yet the summertime holds the greatest significance for the overall well-being of Arctic ice. This is due to the fact that ice-free water heats up faster, retains more thermal energy, leading to increased warmth and reduced strength throughout autumn and winter.

The five smallest measurements of winter peak Arctic sea ice occurred from 2015 onwards.

Earlier this month,

Antarctica

nearly broke the record for the lowest sea ice extent during the period when the area typically reaches its smallest coverage, but ultimately finished as the second-lowest sea ice level ever recorded.

Overall, there tends to be more sea ice around Antarctica, and the timing at both poles differs slightly. However, in February, the total global sea ice—which includes both Arctic and Antarctic—reached an all-time low, according to Meier.