Summer 2024 confirmed the multi-decadal downward trend in sea ice extent, including the Central Arctic Ocean. Although not a remarkable record in terms of inter-annual anomalies in Arctic sea ice extent, the summer of 2024 confirms the now well established multi-decadal downward trend in the Arctic sea ice cover decreasing in extent and volume, the ice pack becoming less compact in virtually all geographical areas, including the Central Arctic Ocean. This new normal for the Arctic is the result of a warmer climate, the effects of which have been unambiguously felt over the last few decades, and has led to an ice cover which is now more vulnerable to the inter-annual variations present in the atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
Author: Marie-Noëlle Houssais for POLAR WATCH.
This article is available on the Cercle Polaire website.
The French version is availabe here.