ocean ice around Antarctica has dropped to the lowest level in more than 40 years , accord tosatellite datafrom the National Snow and Ice Data Center .
The Southern Ocean sea ice coverage has dropped below 2 million square klick for the first meter since orbiter measuring began in 1979 . The February 22 measurement of 1.941 million square kilometers beat up a previous record - low of 2.110 million square kilometre , recorded in 2017 .
Here ’s where it gets a little complicated , as there is n’t a straightforward connecter between Antarctic sea ice-skating rink levels and a heating climate . ocean ice in Antarctica is a challenge for researchers to analyse because huge changes can and do hap over clip , including big fluctuation throughout each year . orbicular temperature changes have impact sea ice , but other factors include the direction and the strength of confidential information as well as estrus in the ocean .
A view of icebergs in Grandidier Channel in Antarctica on 14 February 2025.Photo: Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency (Getty Images)
Will Hobbs of the Australian Antarctic Program Partnershiptold the Guardianthat “ now we have these two result in five years that are off the record … You ca n’t say this is mood change , but we do now have to consider whether or not the organization is commence to change . ”
More inquiry is needed to understand that link and to detangle other likely factors that could be contributing to the decline of sea ice that has been remark in recent days .
Scientists are disturbed by other changes around Antarctica . In late 2021 , a study found that theThwaites Glacier(aka the Doomsday Glacier ) , may suffer its grip on the bedrock beneath it by theend of the decade . If the glacier continues to melt and then slides off the basic principle and into the sea , it would set off a chain of events that could lead to sea storey rise of up to10 human foot .
The blue line is 2022, and the red dashed line is 2017, the year of the previous record minimum of 2.110 million square kilometers. On Feb. 22, sea ice extent hit 1.941 million square kilometers, a new low since reporting began in 1979.Screenshot:National Snow and Ice Data Center
And in July 2021 , another bailiwick outline how a huge lake on the east coast of Antarcticadrained in a matter of daysback in 2019 . More than 200 billion gallons of water supply were flushed out to ocean through the crack ice .
AntarcticaAquatic ecologyEarthGlaciology
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