After months of summer, the sea ice fringing Antarctica has shriveled to its annual minimum. And for the third year running, scientists are shocked by just how much ice has gone missing.
The annual minimum likely occurred on Feb. 20, tying with 2022 for second lowest in the 46-year satellite record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The all-time record low occurred last year.
This year’s minimum is 328,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 average summer minimum extent in Antarctica, according to the NSIDC. That's an area of "missing" ice larger than Texas.
Sea ice is growing again as temperatures plunge with the onset of Antarctic winter. Scientists will be watching carefully to see what happens when it reaches its maximum winter extent next September.
At the height of Antarctic winter last year, sea ice was clearly in trouble. After months of growth, it maxed ...
