PLEA Network

2 March 2018, Aust Antarctic Division. Antarctic sea ice shrinks to second lowest minimum. Antarctic sea ice has shrunk to its second lowest extent on record, with the latest satellite data showing a total 2.15 million km² surrounding the icy continent. This year’s summer low sea ice extent almost broke the existing minimum record of 2.07 million km², set in March last year when the extent was approximately 27 per cent below the average annual minimum since 1979. Dr Rob Massom from the Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem CRC said the sea ice reached its lowest point on 18 February. “Since reaching its lowest point, the sea ice has since begun its autumnal re-formation and expansion around Antarctica,” Dr Massom said. Antarctic sea ice forms each year when the ocean surrounding the continent freezes. “The ice cover plays a crucially important role both in the global climate system and as a key habitat for a wide range of biota from micro-organisms to great whales.” Read more here