Scientists have declared the extent of the Arctic sea ice has fallen to the lowest recorded level during a winter season.

The maximum extent of sea ice covered 14.5 million square kilometers, which is the lowest since 1979 when satellite observations started, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) based at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

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Apart from this new finding, a recent study also detailed how the Arctic ice has significantly become thinner by 65 percent from 1975 to 2012.

This imminent and gradual disappearing of the ice sheets at the polar regions signifies a profound effect that can lead to severe consequences on humans but also on animals and plants in the Arctic and Antarctic, including the rest of the world when sea levels rise, according to Bob Ward from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment located at the London School of Economics.

NSIDC also reported the maximum level of sea ice for the winter peaked during February 25. Ice is now beginning to rapidly melt since the Arctic region is moving into spring, however.

During the end of this February, the total ice cover was 130,000 square kilometers below the previous lowest winter record that occurred in 2011. Scientists believe this unusual warming especially in the parts of Alaska and Russia may have contributed to this disappearance of ice in the Arctic region. A recent study also detailed how melting Arctic ice can contribute to hotter summer months due to weaker air streams in the atmosphere.

According to NSIDC scientist Walt Meier, this maximum sea ice cover, which is at an all time low, is an indicator of the state of the current climate and local weather conditions.

TagsArctic Sea Ice Melting Faster; Hits All Time Record Low This Winter, arctic sea ice, Arctic region, arctic sea ice lowest recorded winter, NSIDC