Signs of accelerating Arctic collapse amid extreme winter heat and permafrost thaw

A new report from Grist highlights mounting evidence that the Arctic is entering a dangerous new climate regime. Based on recent fieldwork in Svalbard, Norway, the findings point to an ecosystem tipping into crisis, with winter temperatures far above normal, thawing permafrost releasing methane and feedback loops reinforcing the region’s rapid warming.

Key points from the report:

• In February, temperatures in Svalbard stayed above freezing for half the month, with highs near 4°C (40°F). That’s nearly 20°C above the historical average for this time of year.

• Scientists found soil so soft they could dig it by hand—an unprecedented sign of midwinter thaw. Beneath the surface, microbial activity was already underway, raising concerns about methane emissions from newly thawed ground.

• Melting sea ice reduces reflectivity, allowing the ocean and land to absorb more heat. This promotes vegetation growth (Arctic “greening”) and traps insulating snow, all of which prevent the ground from refreezing.

• The Svalbard region is now warming six to seven times faster than the global average, making it one of the most rapidly changing environments on Earth.

• Scientists warn this is not a one-off anomaly but evidence of a long-term shift toward persistently warmer, wetter and more unstable Arctic conditions.