The Arctic is experiencing accelerated changes due to Atlantification, the increasing intrusion of warmer, saltier Atlantic water. This phenomenon is intensifying in 2025, leading to significant sea ice loss and disruptions in the Arctic's delicate ecosystems.
Recent studies, including research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, indicate that Atlantification is now affecting the Amerasian Basin. This process weakens the salinity gradient in the Arctic Ocean's upper water layers and accelerates warming, further reducing sea ice formation.
The intrusion of Atlantic water is causing a positive feedback loop: less sea ice forms in winter, and more melts in summer. This has far-reaching consequences for the global climate system, impacting ocean circulation and weather patterns worldwide.