The daily extent of the global sea ice reached a new historic low in early February and remained below the previous record from 2023 throughout the month, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This decline coincides with the third warmest February globally, reinforcing concerns about the effects of climate change on polar ecosystems.
Monitoring from the European Union’s (EU) space program indicates that Arctic sea ice extent was 8% below average, marking the third consecutive month in which a record minimum has been set for that time of year. Although the lowest level of Arctic ice is typically reached in September, the data reflects a concerning trend of gradual reduction.
On the other hand, in Antarctica, ice coverage was 26% below average, marking the fourth lowest monthly extent ever observed. Additionally, scientists suggest that the annual minimum may have been reached by the end of the month, which, if confirmed, would represent the second lowest level ever recorded by satellite.
Global Temperatures Rising
Copernicus also reported that February 2025 was the third warmest February on record, with a global average temperature of 13.36 °C, which is 0.63 °C above the 1991-2020 average. Additionally, the temperature exceeded the pre-industrial period (1850-1900) by 1.59 °C, a key indicator in measuring global warming.
The boreal winter (December 2024 – February 2025) also set a concerning record: it was the second warmest in history, with temperatures 0.71 °C above the reference average. This period was only surpassed by the winter of 2024.
Impact of Warming on the Poles
According to Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), February 2025 continues the trend of record temperatures observed in the past two years. “One consequence of a warmer world is the reduction of sea ice, and the minimum values recorded at both poles have brought global ice coverage to unprecedented levels,” stated the expert.
These data underscore the urgency of measures to mitigate climate change and its effects on polar ecosystems, which are crucial for the planet’s climate stability.
Melting ice reaches extreme levels.
Glacier Melting: Why It Means Less Fresh Water Available
A recent study calculated mass loss and glacier melting in major regions worldwide, revealing concerning results.
This study was conducted by an extensive international group of scientists linked to the GlaMBIE initiative (Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise), coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) based at the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland.
The research community collected, homogenized, and analyzed information on glacier mass changes, using measurements from both field and satellite sources.
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