Published: 10:50 AM, 10 June 2026
Antarctic sea ice reaches unprecedented low levels
Sea ice encircling Antarctica has reached unprecedented low levels this winter, a preliminary analysis of US satellite data shows in yet another dubious record broken this year in the South Pole, reports Independen.Co.Uk.
As the southern hemisphere transitions into spring, Antarctic sea ice reached only a maximum size of 16.96 million sq km (6.55 million sq miles) by 10 September, NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said on Monday.
That is the lowest winter maximum since satellite records began in 1979, the NSIDC said, and about 1 million sq km less ice than the previous winter record set in 1986. This comes after the summer Antarctic sea ice extent also hit a record low in February this year, breaking the previous mark set in 2022.
Researchers warned the shift will not only have dire consequences for animals like penguins, who breed and rear their young on the sea ice, but also worsen the climate crisis by reducing how much sunlight is reflected by white ice back into space.
"It's not just a record-breaking year, it's an extreme record-breaking year," said NSIDC senior scientist Walt Meier.
Mr Meier said the growth in sea ice appeared "low around nearly the whole continent as opposed to any one region".
Antarctica's sea ice reaches its maximum extent every September, when winter ends and spring begins in the southern hemisphere. It later melts to its lowest point in February or March as summer draws to a close.
The seasonal changes in the southern pole were mostly stable until 2016, when a new record summer low was broken.
Since then several records have been broken, especially in last two years. This year has marked both the lowest summer minimum and the lowest winter minimum record. NSIDC in a statement said the figures were preliminary, with a full analysis to be released next month. The agency cautioned that "changing winds or late-season growth could still increase the Antarctic ice extent".
It is not yet clear what role record global temperatures this year have played in the Antarctic's unprecedented ice levels, but the shift in recent years has scientists concerned that the climate crisis may finally be presenting itself in Antarctic sea ice.
