Ice surface on seas around Antarctica is shrinking to a new low Russia arms itself: with “thousands of tanks” and (perhaps) a drone factory

The ice-covered area in the seas around Antarctica is smaller than it has been since satellite-based measurements began about 40 years ago. According to this, only 2.2 million square kilometers were covered by sea ice at the beginning of February, the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) announced on Friday in Bremerhaven.

The previous record minimum of February 24 last year was therefore undershot a few weeks before the end of the summer melting period. At that time, according to AWI, a sea ice area of ​​2.27 million square kilometers was recorded in the southern ocean around Antarctica. The melting period is expected to last until the second half of February.

According to the AWI, which collaborated with researchers at the University of Bremen in its analysis, sea ice cover in Antarctica was at an all-time low in January. It was therefore the eighth year in a row that average sea ice cover in the Southern Ocean was below the long-term trend in January.

“The rapid reduction of sea ice over the past six years is very astonishing because the ice cover had hardly changed in the past 35 years,” explains AWI sea ice physicist Christian Haas. “It’s unclear if this is the start of a rapid end to summer sea ice in Antarctica, or if it’s just another phase of reduced but still stable summer sea ice cover,” he added.

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

It is currently summer in the southern hemisphere. According to the AWI, the sea ice around Antarctica will then completely melt in some regions. In winter, the extreme cold quickly forms new sea ice, up to a maximum size of about 18 to 20 million square kilometers.

One possible reason for the melting of the strong current is unusually warm air temperatures in parts of Antarctica, the AWI further announced. However, complex interactions between air pressure, wind circulation and ocean currents also played a role. This also affects ice retreat.

Similar seasonal changes in sea ice cover also occur in the seas around the North Pole. However, according to the AWI, the natural seasonal fluctuations are much more pronounced in Antarctica. Changes in sea ice cover do not affect global sea levels because the ice is already floating in the water. Ice on the mainland is different. As it melts, additional water enters the oceans. (aeg/sda/afp)