The ongoing melt of the polar ice sheets continues to intensify, with February marking a particularly troubling period. Antarctica showed a dramatic deterioration, while the Arctic trend accelerated as well. In the region around Antarctica, sea ice size hit a record low for February, based on a report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), distributed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts of the European Commission.
The institution notes that the sea ice extent in this area reached a monthly low that stands out in the 45 years of satellite records. The February figure came in at about 34% below the February average, far surpassing the previous record low documented in February 2017. The daily extent of Antarctic sea ice also fell to a new nadir, with concentrations well below average across all sectors of the Southern Ocean.
evolution of ice loss Copernican
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S, commented: “The latest data show that Antarctic sea ice has reached its lowest level in 45 years of satellite observations. This persistent retreat in sea ice aligns with ongoing instability in the Antarctic ice sheets and contributes to global sea level rise. Glaciers remain a sensitive indicator of the climate crisis, underscoring the need to monitor changes closely.”
The Arctic is also melting at a faster pace
Arctic sea ice was about 4% below the long-term average, with the lowest concentrations observed in the Barents Sea and around Svalbard. This marked the second-lowest February reading in the satellite era for that region.
Copernicus analysis adds that 2023 was among the warmest Februaries on record globally. Higher-than-average temperatures were recorded across the eastern United States, northern Russia, Pakistan, and India. In Europe, the trend was broadly warm, with notable warmth in northern Norway and Sweden.
The poles continue to melt Pixabay
In some areas, the Iberian Peninsula experienced below-average temperatures, while Turkey, western parts of the United States, portions of Canada, northeastern Russia, and northern Australia also saw notable shifts in the winter climate patterns.
The winter season overall was one of the warmer stories in Europe, with temperatures well above average across eastern Europe and the northeastern parts of the continent. Dry conditions prevailed across much of Western and Southeastern Europe, while some regions—particularly the Iberian Peninsula and a broad swath from the southwest to the northeast—saw higher-than-average precipitation, bringing a mix of wet spells to the continent.
……”
Contact details of the environment department: [redacted]