Abstract/Summary

The West African Monsoon (WAM) is a crucial component of the regional climate system, affecting agriculture, water resources and livelihoods across West Africa. Recent studies have suggested that changes in Arctic sea ice extent, driven primarily by anthropogenic climate change, could exert significant influences on the behaviour of the WAM. This review paper summarises the current state of knowledge on how Arctic sea ice melt has affected the WAM system over the last decades. Utilizing observations data and modelling studies aim at enhancing our understanding of the influence of Artic sea ice loss on WAM. This paper also explores the mechanisms driving the connections between Arctic sea ice melting and the WAM, discusses the potential implications for regional climate variability, and identifies key challenges and opportunities for future research in this important area of study.