Global sea ice cover hit a record low in February, researchers find

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🗞️ Driving the news: Global sea ice cover hit a record low in February, according to Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service
• The Arctic recorded its lowest-ever February sea ice extent, while Antarctic sea ice also showed persistent declines
• Scientists attribute the losses to unusually high ocean and air temperatures, continuing a decades-long downward trend

🔭 The context: The Arctic has warmed several times faster than the global average, leading to relentless ice loss since satellite records began nearly 50 years ago
• While Antarctic sea ice showed no clear trend until recently, significant declines have occurred since 2017
• February 2025 was also the third warmest on record globally, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5°C in 19 of the past 20 months

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Less sea ice means more solar radiation is absorbed by the ocean, accelerating global warming in a feedback loop
• Arctic communities face severe consequences, including coastal erosion and disrupted wildlife patterns, while global weather systems may become more extreme
• If warming continues, the Arctic could experience ice-free summers as early as mid-century, reshaping ecosystems and global climate stability

⏭️ What's next: Scientists warn that surpassing 2°C of warming could lead to near-complete summer sea ice loss in the Arctic
• The data serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for greenhouse gas reductions to slow climate change
• Researchers continue monitoring sea ice trends as an "early-warning system" for the planet’s future

💬 One quote: "It’s an early-warning system for the climate… an indicator of a warming planet." — Walt Meier, National Snow and Ice Data Center

📈 One stat: The Arctic’s February sea ice extent was 85,000 square miles below the previous record low

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