Environment News

Antarctic Ice Hits Record Low

October 15 , 2026 16 hrs 0 min 36 0

Antarctic sea ice reached its third-lowest winter maximum in satellite records on 14 September 2026, covering about 17.59 million square kilometres.
The ice extent was about 1 million square kilometres below the long-term average.
The four lowest winter sea ice maximums on record occurred during the past four years.
Antarctic sea ice usually reaches its maximum in September and its minimum in February.
Satellite records began in late 1978; scientists use passive microwave sensors to measure sea ice extent.
Antarctic sea ice increased by about 1% per decade from 1979 to 2014, but significant declines began in 2016.