Experts have been warned a lot many times that global warming has changed the Arctic significantly. There is a high possibility that scientists will declare that this winter, sea ice cover in the Arctic has built up to a record low level.

For the past many years, sea ice cover of the Arctic is declining rapidly. Generally, the sea ice's maximum level forms in March. But since the start of this month, scientists have been observing a decline in sea ice and rise in ocean temperatures.

Therefore, there is a high probability that scientists can declare that sea ice extent maximum took place on or around February 25. "Previous years have seen a surge in Arctic ice extent during March (e. g., in 2012, 2014). However, if the current pattern of below-average extent continues, Arctic sea ice extent may set a new lowest winter maximum", affirmed the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.

As per experts, the winter maximum is considered when the sea ice is generally at its most stretched and thickest. This year's maximum could be the lowest on record since 1979 when satellite monitoring started.

This could be a vital indication about the long-term warming trend in the Arctic. Warming trend has been linked to burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. Julienne Stroeve, a scientist at the NSIDC, affirmed that the slight rise in ice extent does not mean that 2015 will set a new record low summer ice extent.

Stroeve said that there is no correlation between the two. As per their observation, thickness of the sea ice is a better predictor because sea ice is more difficult to melt in a single season.