Recent research offers new insights on Antarctic sea ice, which, despite global warming, has increased in overall extent over the past 40 years.
An aqua and white iceberg, approximately 30 to 60 meters across, floats amid a field of sea ice in the Southern Ocean. Recent modeling experiments suggest that winds and sea ice drift, along with sea surface temperature cooling in the Southern Ocean, have acted together to increase the extent of sea ice around Antarctica. Credit: Brad MarkleSea ice covers the ocean surrounding Antarctica, forming a key component of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-cryosphere system in southern high latitudes that helps regulate climate, ocean circulation, and marine ecosystems. The extent of Antarctic sea ice varies greatly from year to year, but 40 years of satellite records show a long-term trend. Although some Antarctic regions have experienced reductions in sea ice extent, the overall trend since 1979 shows increased ice.https://eos.org/science-updates/new-perspectives-on-the-enigma-of-expanding-antarctic-sea-ice
