- The amount of Antarctic Sea ice at its lowest annual maximum extent, 16.96 million square kilometers.
- The drop is probably related to ocean surface warming.
- If sea-ice coverage remains below average, more coastlines will be exposed to ocean waves.
According to preliminary data given by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder, the amount of Antarctic Sea ice at its lowest annual maximum extent, 16.96 million square kilometers, occurred on September 10.
The drop, in the opinion of scientists, is probably related to ocean surface warming. A record-breaking 1.03 million square kilometers less sea ice was present than in 1986.
Antarctic sea ice
This record low occurs during the summer in the northern hemisphere when the sea ice that covers the waters around Antarctica generally reaches its maximum extent. The debate has surrounded the long-term decline in Antarctic sea ice, with fresh data suggesting a connection to the global climate issue.
Although the Antarctic sea ice exhibits significant seasonal variation, this year’s events are significantly different from anything ever observed.
Since oceans are rising worldwide and warm water mixing in the Southern Ocean polar layer may continue, there is some worry that this could be the start of a long-term pattern of reduction for Antarctic sea ice.
After researchers claimed in July that a five-sigma event was taking place on the continent, the numbers were made public. A five-sigma event is a statistical anomaly that is five standard deviations from the mean, making it extremely rare and giving it a very low likelihood of occurring by chance.
Scientists say that the ice was struggling to recover from its low point in February, which was a sharp departure from historical patterns. At the height of the austral summer in February, the Antarctic Sea ice pack had expanded to a record-low minimum area of 1.79 million square kilometers.
In 45 years of record-keeping, the minimum area of Arctic Sea ice has decreased to a record low of 4.23 million square kilometers, which ranks as the sixth-lowest minimum.
