The National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that Arctic sea ice appeared to have reached its seasonal maximum extent on March 22, 2025, 10 days later than the 1981-2010 average. Despite the late peak, it was the lowest maximum extent of the 47-year satellite era, which began in 1979.

The new record-low winter maximum is part of the long-term trend of shrinking ice cover across the Arctic as a result of global warming. All of the top 10 smallest winter ice extents of the satellite record have occurred since 2007.

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