Arctic sea ice extent

The 2021 minimum extent (September) was  still well below the 1981-2010 average, representing the 12th lowest minimum ice extent in the 43-year satellite record. (WHO)

The Arctic Ocean is expected to become essentially ice free in summer before mid-century. The main cause for Arctic sea ice loss are the rising ocean temperatures, reinforced by the disruption of the sea ice feedback loop: the more ice gets molten, less sunlight is reflected and more energy gets absorbed by the ocean, warming up the sea water. More information in the section Essential Climate Variables