Scientists fear global heating may have shifted region into new era of disappearing ice with far-reaching consequences
The 2023 maximum was 1.75m sq km below the long term average and about 1m sq km below the previous record low maximum set in 1986.
He said sea ice losses in the Ross Sea region were likely down to winds that had pushed the ice against the continent, bringing warm air. But weather could not explain why ice was lost around the rest of the continent. Scientists are still trying to untangle the reasons for the dramatic run of records, with natural variability and global heating likely combining.
“There is some concern that this may be the beginning of a long-term trend of decline for Antarctic sea ice, since oceans are warming globally, and warm water mixing in the Southern Ocean polar layer could continue,” the centre said in an update. “But as to why the sea ice has been so much lower than it has ever been on the record, we still don’t have a good grasp on that yet.”
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