MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. The minimal area of ice was observed in the Arctic in January, and this is associated with high temperatures, scientific director of the national Hydrometeorology Center, Roman Vilfand, told TASS.
"According to the Copernicus [Climate Change Service], a minimum recorded Arctic ice area was registered in January. <...> It is lower than the previous record of January, 2018," he said.
The scientist noted another anomaly - in the Antarctica, at the South Pole, where the ice area is 5% below average.
"The new minimum value follows another record low seen in December, which means records continue for two months in a row. And the extent of ice in 2024-2025 contrasts very strongly with that observed in 2021-2023. This, of course, suggests that global warming processes develop very quickly, despite natural factors such as La Nina," he said.
Earlier, he said January, 2025 was recognized as the warmest January in the world, despite the developing La Nina natural phenomenon.