Could melting Arctic ice be reshaping British and Irish winters?

The Arctic just hit its lowest winter sea ice maximum on record - and as a region is warming faster than many other parts of the world. New groundbreaking research reveals a climate "tug-of-war" between Arctic ice loss and ocean warming that could fundamentally alter our winter weather patterns.

In this episode of Climate Conversations, Clare Nasir introduces a fascinating deep dive into how rapid Arctic changes ripple thousands of miles south to affect our weather. Alex Burkill speaks with two leading climate scientists about why the Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average, and what this means for future weather patterns across the UK and Ireland.

MEET THE EXPERTS:

Dr Ed Blockley - Met Office Arctic Sea Ice Expert Ed explains the mechanisms linking rapid Arctic warming to mid-latitude weather patterns and the critical role of temperature gradients in driving the jet stream.Dr Steph Hay - University of Exeter, Lead Author Steph reveals surprising findings from her groundbreaking paper on Arctic sea ice impacts specifically on the British Isles—the first study to focus on our region in such detail.