In 2023 Antarctic sea ice reached historically low levels, with over 2 million square kilometers less ice than usual during winter — equivalent to about ten times the size of the UK. This drastic reduction followed decades of steady growth in sea ice up to 2015, making the sudden decline even more surprising. The last few years’ low sea ice could signal a lasting regime shift in the Southern Ocean. Sea ice formation around the Antarctic acts as an engine for ocean currents and influences weather patterns. It also protects the exposed edges of the ice shelves from waves, curbing Antarctica’s contribution to sea level rise.
www.voanews.com/a/study-climate-change-key-driver-of-record-low-antarctic-sea-ice/7619329.html