Arctic amplification and sea ice loss

Critical severity. Severe, persistent harm to health, ecosystems or livelihoods. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.

1. 01

   Greenhouse gas emissions

   Global warming drives Arctic change.

2. 02

   Albedo feedback

   Less ice and snow means more sunlight is absorbed.

3. 03

   Ocean and atmospheric heat transport

   Warm water and air moving north add heat.

1. 01

   Sea ice decline

   Loss of habitat for polar bears, seals and walrus.

2. 02

   Global sea level rise

   Melting land ice from Greenland raises seas worldwide.

3. 03

   Impacts on Arctic peoples

   Changes to ice, weather and wildlife affect Indigenous livelihoods.

4. 04

   Possible effects on mid-latitude weather

   Scientists continue to research links between Arctic change and weather further south.

1. Global emission reductions

   Limiting global warming is the principal way to slow Arctic change.

   Expected effectDetermines the extent of future ice loss.

2. Arctic Council cooperation

   Scientific assessment and cooperation among Arctic states and Indigenous organisations.

   Expected effectSupports monitoring and shared policy responses.

3. Reducing black carbon and methane

   Cutting short-lived climate pollutants that affect the Arctic.

   Expected effectCan slow near-term Arctic warming.

Arctic warming since 1979

Nearly four times the global rate2022

Rantanen et al., Communications Earth & Environment (2022).

Sea ice trend

Long-term decline

NSIDC satellite record since 1979; consult NSIDC for the latest annual minimum.

1. [1]The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the globe since 1979Communications Earth & Environment (Rantanen et al.) · Aug 2022doi.org(opens in a new tab)
2. [2]Arctic Sea Ice News and AnalysisNational Snow and Ice Data Centernsidc.org(opens in a new tab)
3. [3]Arctic Report CardNOAAarctic.noaa.gov(opens in a new tab)
4. [4]Arctic Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeAMAP / Arctic Councilamap.no(opens in a new tab)

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