Antarctic sea ice extent peaked this year on Sept. 10, when it covered 16.96 million square miles, the lowest winter maximum since satellite records began in 1979, the NSIDC said. That’s about 1 million square kilometres less ice than the previous winter record set in 1986.
It is interesting that this effect has only taken place in recent years, with Antarctic sea ice actually increasing in coverage between 2007 and 2016. It cannot be concluded whether this reduction is caused by climate change, as the change has only taken place in recent years, but warming sea temperatures are likely to have contributed.
This presents an entire set of problems. Not only does it endanger the species who dwell on the ice, and as such the biodiversity of the Antarctic, but may cause climate change to build exponentially, as the Antarctic sea ice is an important factor in fighting climate change and reducing global temperatures by reflecting solar radiation out of the atmosphere. Sea ice reflects 45-65% solar radiation than the ocean.
“The key message here is that to protect these frozen parts of the world that are really important for a whole number of reasons,” said Ariaan Purich, a sea ice researcher at Australia’s Monash University who co-authored the study. “We really need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”