Global sea ice disappears before our eyes. “Particularly disturbing” situation

The provided data includes the range of sea ice in both polar regions. In the Arctic (North Pole), the ice cover was 8 percent smaller than the average of this month. In turn, Antarctica sea ice reached the fourth lowest monthly range in February, 26 percent. Below the average. The worse condition of the ice cover in the world is one of the consequences of the growth of global temperature – scientists believe.

– Record or almost record -breaking marine ice cover at both poles caused that the global sea ice cover reached the lowest level in history – said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S (Copernicus agency program dealing with climate change).

The latest report of the EU Copernicus agency also provided information on the average air temperature in February this year. It shows that the past month was the third warmest February in the history of measurements. Compared to the time before the industrial era, the average global air temperature was 1.59 degrees Celsius.

In February, scientists also observed an extreme anomaly at the North Pole. At the beginning of the month above the Arctic there were extremely warm air masses, which caused an increase in temperature by as much as 20 degrees Celsius above the average and exceeding the melting threshold of ice. According to experts, the current situation at both poles is “particularly disturbing”.

– Lack of sea ice means a darker surface of the oceans and less earth's ability to absorb more sunlight, which accelerates warming – said Mika Rantenn, a climatologist from the Finnish meteorological institute.

In the report, Agencja Copernicus emphasized that February 2025 continues a series of record -breaking or almost record temperature values ​​observed over the last two years.