Huge Arctic heat alert! According to a NOAA report released on December 16, 2025, surface air temperatures across the Arctic from October 2024 through September 2025 hit the highest levels since records began in 1900. 🔥🐻❄️
Autumn 2024 ranked as the hottest on record, and winter 2025 was the second hottest ever documented. These extreme seasons are part of a broader trend: the past 10 years are the warmest decade in Arctic history, with annual temperatures rising more than twice as fast as the global average.
Major Shifts Underway
The report highlights dramatic changes reshaping the region:
- Atlantification: Warmer, saltier Atlantic waters are pushing north, altering marine ecosystems. 🌊
- Boreal takeover: Forest species are spreading into traditional Arctic habitats.
- “Rivers rusting”: Thawing permafrost releases iron and other metals into rivers and shorelines. 🏞️
Sea Ice, Glaciers, and Rising Risks
Winter sea ice reached its lowest maximum extent in March 2025 in the 47-year satellite record. Across the Arctic, Greenland, and Alaska, glaciers continue to shrink, driving up global sea levels.
These changes put Arctic communities at risk by threatening water supplies, increasing the chance of floods, landslides, and even tsunamis. The ripple effects could reach coasts worldwide.
As the Arctic warms, its story becomes our story. It’s a call to action for young people everywhere to stay informed and engaged. 🌍💪
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
