The Arctic has experienced its hottest year since modern records began over a century ago, and scientists say the warming is happening much faster than across the rest of the planet. According to the latest Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Arctic temperatures have been rising at more than twice the global average rate since 2006, showing a clear and ongoing pattern of rapid change. The report examines air and sea temperatures, ice cover, and ecosystems, revealing a region under growing stress, with changes that matter far beyond the polar north because shifts in Arctic ice, land, and oceans can influence global weather, sea levels, and ecosystems.
Arctic warming far outpaces the rest of the planet
Since 2006, temperatures in the Arctic have risen at more than double the pace of global temperature increases. This means that while the planet as a whole is warming, the Arctic is warming much faster. Scientists describe this as a strong and consistent trend rather than a temporary spike.
During the most recent observation period, from October 2024 to September 2025, Arctic sea surface temperatures reached record highs. In some areas, sea temperatures were as much as 13 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020. These were the highest sea surface temperatures measured in the Arctic since at least the year 1900.
Air temperatures also showed extreme warmth. The autumn of 2024 was the warmest autumn ever recorded in the Arctic. The winter that followed, in early 2025, ranked as the second warmest on record. These seasonal records highlight how warming is affecting the Arctic throughout the year, not just during summer.
The report states that Arctic warming is happening several times faster than warming across the Earth as a whole. This rapid rise in temperature is reshaping land, oceans, and ice across the region. Snow melts earlier. Ice forms later. And warm conditions last longer each year.
Sea ice decline and ocean changes accelerate warming
One of the most visible signs of Arctic warming is the loss of sea ice. Sea ice normally reflects sunlight back into space, helping keep the region cool. When ice melts, darker ocean water is exposed. This water absorbs more heat from the sun, which causes even more warming.
In March, Arctic winter sea ice reached its lowest maximum extent since satellite monitoring began 47 years ago. This is the point in the year when ice cover is usually at its greatest. Reaching a record low at this stage signals a major shift in Arctic conditions.
By September, when sea ice typically reaches its yearly minimum, the extent ranked as the 10th lowest on record. While this was not the lowest ever measured, the long-term trend is clear. All of the 19 lowest September ice extents have occurred within the past 19 years. This shows a steady and ongoing decline in Arctic sea ice.
The warming ocean also plays a role. Higher sea surface temperatures delay ice formation in autumn and speed up ice melt in spring and summer. Warmer waters affect marine life and disrupt ecosystems that depend on stable ice conditions. These changes create a feedback loop. Less ice leads to more heat absorption. More heat leads to even less ice. This cycle is one reason why Arctic temperatures are rising so much faster than the global average.
Ecosystems and ice loss reshape the Arctic landscape
The Arctic’s persistent warmth is transforming its natural systems. Glaciers, permafrost, tundra, and coastal regions are all being affected by higher temperatures. Glaciers across the Arctic continue to shrink. In Scandinavia, glaciers experienced their largest annual ice loss on record between 2023 and 2024. This loss reflects long-term warming trends rather than short-term weather changes.
The Greenland Ice Sheet, one of the largest bodies of ice on Earth, lost an estimated 129 billion tons of ice in 2025 alone. This ongoing ice loss adds freshwater to the oceans and contributes to rising global sea levels.
Permafrost, which is frozen ground that stays solid for many years, is also thawing. As permafrost warms, the land becomes less stable. This can damage buildings, roads, and other infrastructure in Arctic regions. Thawing permafrost also changes the landscape, affecting rivers, wetlands, and soil conditions.
The Arctic tundra is changing as well. Longer summers and warmer temperatures allow plants to grow more easily. Areas that were once mostly bare or snow-covered are now turning green. While this may look positive at first, it signals deep changes in the ecosystem. New plant growth can alter wildlife habitats and affect how carbon is stored in the soil.
The report also highlights how these Arctic changes connect to the rest of the world. Ongoing glacier loss contributes to rising sea levels globally. Higher sea levels increase the risk of flooding in coastal areas, threaten freshwater supplies, and raise the chances of landslides and coastal damage.
The Arctic Report Card makes it clear that warming in the region is not slowing down. Instead, it is accelerating. Rising air temperatures, warmer oceans, shrinking ice, and changing ecosystems all point to the same fact. Since 2006, the Arctic has been heating up at more than twice the global rate, marking one of the most dramatic climate shifts observed on the planet today.
