https://scitechdaily.com/2022-arctic-summer-sea-ice-minimum-extent-tied-for-10th-lowest-on-record/

2022 Arctic Summer Sea Ice Minimum Extent Tied for 10th-Lowest on Record

.. . .

Interesting ... despite the prevalence of heat waves across
the globe this year, the sea-ice minimum barely made it to
10th place.

Some are blaming the heat waves and similar weather extremes
on the Tonga volcano - which abruptly injected VAST amounts
of water into the stratosphere. Water IS a greenhouse gas
and estimates are that the volcano increased stratospheric
moisture levels by about 20% over normal.

Atmospheric stratification, kinda fuzzy lines between air
masses of different temperatures/humidities, MIGHT have
kept the volcano moisture from reaching polar areas.
Envision the 'stripes' on Jupiter ... but the delineation
is less rigid on Earth - closer to inbetween jet streams
or outside jet streams.

Barring more radical volcanism, if the Tonga hypothesis
is correct then this winter and next year should be a
lot more 'normal'.

BUT remember, gigantic volcanic events DO happen, and
fairly often on the historical scale. They usually
inject vast amounts of dust/aerosols that decrease
global temperatures - but Tonga was different, more
of an undersea volcano. It bletched mostly steam.

The arc bending up from New Zealand and over to the
west encompassing Indonesia has been the worlds most
active volcanic region and responsible for the bulk
of extreme events - including the infamous Krakatoa
eruption that caused global crop failures.