Arctic Thaw

The Arctic Report Card 2025 was recently released by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

About the Arctic Report Card

• The Arctic Report Card (ARC) has been issued annually since 2006, and the 2025 edition marks its 20th anniversary. 
• The ARC provides reliable, clear, and concise environmental data on the current state of the Arctic ecosystem, offering a comparison to historical records.
• Publication: The ARC is classified as a NOAA Technical Report

Key Highlights from the Arctic Report Card

In the Air

• Surface Air Temperatures: The Arctic recorded its warmest surface air temperatures from October 2024 to September 2025 since 1900.
• Temperature Trend: The last 10 years have been the warmest on record in the Arctic, with annual temperatures increasing more than double the global rate since 2006.
• Precipitation: A record-high level of precipitation was recorded, with winter, spring, and autumn totals ranking among the top five since 1950.

In the Ocean

• Sea Ice Extent: March 2025 saw the lowest annual maximum sea ice extent in the 47-year satellite record.
• Decline of Thick Ice: The oldest, thickest Arctic sea ice (>4 years old) has declined by over 95% since the 1980s, now mostly confined to the areas north of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago.
• Phytoplankton Growth: Phytoplankton productivity increased by 80% in the Eurasian Arctic from 2003 to 2025, with regions like the Barents Sea and Hudson Bay showing growth of 34% and 27%, respectively.

On Land

• Glacier Loss: Arctic glaciers in Scandinavia, Svalbard, and Alaska experienced significant ice loss, contributing to rising global sea levels.
• Greenland Ice Sheet: Lost an estimated 129 billion tons of ice in 2025, continuing the long-term trend of ice loss.
• Alaskan Glacier Shrinkage: Alaskan glaciers have lost an average of 125 vertical feet (38 meters) of ice since the mid-20th century.Rusting Rivers: Thawing permafrost has led to “rusting rivers” in over 200 Arctic Alaska watersheds, turning waters orange due to increased  iron, mercury, and toxic metals, impacting water quality and aquatic habitats.
• Greening of the Arctic: The Arctic tundra showed the third-highest greenness in 2025, continuing a trend of increasing vegetation productivity since the late 1990s, impacting habitats and the carbon cycle.
• Disrupted Ecosystems: The warming Arctic is reshaping ecosystems at an unprecedented rate. Species like polar bears, seals, and Arctic birds face habitat loss and food scarcity.

Geopolitical Implications of Arctic Melting

• Natural Resource Accessibility: The melting of Arctic sea ice is opening up access to vast reserves of natural resources, such as oil, gas, and critical minerals, which are becoming increasingly valuable.
• Maritime Trade Routes: The Northern Sea Route (NSR), once inaccessible due to ice, is now opening up. 
  • This reduces travel time between Europe and Asia by 40%, making it a highly strategic and economic route.
• Global Competition: With the Arctic opening up, non-Arctic countries, including India and China, are becoming more involved in the region. 
  • India has shown interest in utilizing the NSR for enhancing trade with Europe, reducing shipping time, and boosting its energy resource diversification.

India’s Arctic Interests and Policy

• Arctic Council: India became an observer in the Arctic Council in 2013
• Arctic Policy 2022: India released its Arctic Policy in 2022, which outlines six key areas: scientific research, climate protection, economic development, transportation, governance, and national capacity building.
• Focus on Scientific Research: India has a long-standing presence in the Arctic, with its research station Himadri in the Svalbard archipelago since 2008. 
  • India aims to enhance scientific cooperation in the region to better understand the impact of Arctic changes on India’s monsoon patterns.
• Collaboration with Russia: India has been actively supporting infrastructure development for the Northern Sea Route with Russia, aiming to improve its connectivity between Chennai and Vladivostok, enhancing trade with Europe.

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About the Arctic Region

• The Arctic is the northernmost region of Earth, centered around the North Pole and includes parts of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (Alaska).
• Continental Shelf: The Arctic Ocean is home to the longest continental shelf in the world.
• Arctic Ocean:
• • The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the five major oceans on Earth.
  • It is partly covered by sea ice (frozen seawater) throughout the year, especially in the winter months.
• Salinity & Temperature: 
  • The surface temperature and salinity of the Arctic Ocean vary seasonally due to the freezing and thawing of the ice cover.
  • Its salinity is the lowest of all major oceans because of low evaporation, heavy freshwater influx from rivers and streams, and limited connection to surrounding oceanic waters.

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