Antarctic sea ice reaches its lowest levels in February during the continent's summer and then increases again over the winter. This is a natural annual cycle.
But scientists have noticed a significant and unprecedented decline in Antarctic sea ice levels this year. The ice has not returned to expected levels as it usually does during winter, and it is currently at its lowest point since records began 45 years ago. In mid-July, the sea ice was about 2.6 million square kilometers (1 million square miles) below the average for the period between 1981 and 2010, which is approximately the size of Argentina or the combined areas of Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
The melting of Antarctic sea ice has several consequences. When it disappears, the darker ocean waters beneath absorb more of the sun's energy, contributing to further warming. The loss of sea ice exposes coastal ice sheets and glaciers to waves and warm ocean waters, making them more susceptible to melting and breaking off.
In February of this year, NASA reported that global sea levels are rising due to human-caused global warming, with recent rates being unprecedented in over 2,500 years. The rise is attributed to the warming of seawater and the added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers. Since 1993, sea levels have risen by about 3.89 inches (100 mm), and since 1900, the rise has been approximately 7.97 inches (200 mm). This has significant implications for coastal regions and ecosystems.
Source: news.slashdot.org