Researchers from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute report that Antarctica has reached its lowest sea ice extent since 1979, marking a significant shift in polar conditions. The institute’s press service notes that this year’s measurements reflect a record-setting scale of sea ice over the last four decades. These findings come as part of ongoing monitoring of how sea ice behaves at the fringes of the continent, where change tends to be most visible and impactful for global climate patterns.
According to AARI, the Antarctic sea ice extent at the end of February reached roughly 1.8 million square kilometers. This figure represents the portion of the sea that remains frozen after the summer melt, with the majority typically persisting in the Weddell Sea and the Amundsen Sea basins. The pattern observed this year aligns with a longer trend of shrinking ice, which scientists see as part of a broader shift in regional oceanography and atmospheric dynamics. These shifts influence not only local ecosystems but also global ocean circulation and climate feedbacks that affect Canada, the United States, and beyond.
Remarkably, this marks the second consecutive year in which Antarctic sea ice has declined. Last February, the ice extent stood at about 1.92 million square kilometers, underscoring a clear reduction in winter maximums and raising questions about the drivers behind sustained ice loss. Climate researchers point to a combination of warmer air temperatures, changing wind patterns, and ocean heat content as contributing factors that together reduce the overall frozen area during peak seasons. The data emphasize the importance of long-term, consistent observation to separate natural variability from persistent trends that could alter marine and weather systems across the southern ocean and downstream regions.
In related estimates, previous assessments from the University of Leeds highlighted substantial ice volume changes near the Amundsen Sea coast. The researchers there estimated a removal of ice mass on the order of billions of tons over recent decades, a figure that underscores how regional ice loss translates into shifts in sea level balance and freshwater input into surrounding seas. This kind of loss has cascading implications for ocean stratification, nutrient flows, and habitat stability for Antarctic wildlife, while also contributing to the broader conversation about how polar regions respond to a warming climate and what that means for coastal communities farther afield. (Attribution: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; University of Leeds research teams)