From MercoPress · · 1m 10s
Antarctic sea ice shrinking
Antarctic sea ice reaches third-lowest winter maximum in four years.
In brief
Antarctic sea ice reaches third-lowest winter maximum in four years. Antarctic sea ice extent hit 17.59 million square kilometres, a million square kilometres below historical average, marking the third-lowest winter maximum since satellite records began in 1979. Originally reported by MercoPress.
Antarctic sea ice extent
The sea ice surrounding Antarctica reached its third-lowest winter maximum this year since satellite records began in 1979.
Record low extent
Extent peaked on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometres, more than a million below the historical average.
Historical context
Only the winters of 2023 and 2024 recorded lower maxima, with the four lowest maxima occurring in the last four years.
Climate scientist perspective
Lettie Roach, a climate scientist at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute, said the low values persisting are concerning after decades of stable or increasing conditions.
Regional trends
July recorded the fifth-lowest extent on record and August the fourth-lowest, with all five lowest Julys since 2022.
Scientific explanation
Water temperature appears to be a decisive factor in the decline, though the current El Niño may have played a role through changes in winds and storm tracks.
What to remember
Antarctic sea ice extent hit 17.59 million square kilometres, a million square kilometres below historical average, marking the third-lowest winter maximum since satellite records began in 1979.
