NASA says Arctic sea ice hit its 10th lowest summer level on record this year – and it’s not good news for the future

Nearly 50 years of satellite data shows Arctic sea ice is shrinking in both summer and winter, and according to NASA, the ice that’s still there is a lot thinner and more fragile than it used to be

Every year, the ice covering the Arctic Ocean builds up through a long, dark winter, hits its biggest extent around March, and then shrinks back during the warmer months until it reaches its smallest point in September.

It’s a cycle that’s been happening for thousands of years, but satellites have been keeping an eye on it since 1978, and according to NASA, the amount of ice at both ends of that cycle has dropped significantly.

A slowdown, but not a recovery

This year, Arctic sea ice hit its annual minimum on 12 September, covering around 4.6 million square kilometres. Data recorded by NASA and the US National Snow and Ice Data Center shows that tied with 2008, 2010 and 2025 for the 10th lowest level since satellite records began.

And it’s not just summer. Back in March, the winter …….