Temperatures in West Antarctica have soared up to 45 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, halting sea ice formation in the Bellingshausen Sea during the dead of winter. Satellite observations show the region, typically ice-covered by June, is almost completely ice-free. Scientists estimate a loss of about 650,000 square kilometers of sea ice compared to the 1991–2020 average, an area roughly the size of France. Dr. Will Hobbs, an Antarctic sea ice expert at the University of Tasmania, called the situation “depressing” and expressed deep concern for the region's future.
This marks the third time in four years that sea ice has been extremely low in the Bellingshausen Sea. “I don’t think we will see sea ice there anymore. It’s done,” Hobbs said. The ice loss is likely linked to ocean changes, and scientists are investigating whether global warming is a driving factor. The region is vital for krill, a cornerstone of the Antarctic food web. Krill typically hide under sea ice in winter to graze on algae and avoid predators. Without ice, the entire ecosystem is disrupted, affecting penguins, seals, and other wildlife.
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A heatwave struck the Antarctic Peninsula in early June, with maximum temperatures reaching 15.4°C, more than 20°C above average. Dr. Phil Reid from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology noted that the lack of protective sea ice could accelerate the breakup of floating ice shelves in front of the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, major contributors to global sea level rise. If sea ice remains absent, these glaciers may lose mass faster, pushing up sea levels worldwide.
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The ice loss has already triggered a catastrophic breeding failure for emperor penguins. In late 2022, thousands of chicks died in four colonies in the Bellingshausen Sea, prompting the International Union for Conservation of Nature to upgrade the species to “endangered” earlier this year. Dr. Peter Fretwell from the British Antarctic Survey explained that sea ice forms too late and breaks up too early, reducing breeding success and forcing longer journeys to molting grounds. Adélie penguin numbers are also declining, and crabeater seals are migrating in summer to find stable ice.
The heatwave over the Antarctic Peninsula, according to Hobbs, was likely worsened by the absence of sea ice, which normally cools warm airflows from the north. Records from Argentina's Esperanza base show extreme temperatures: 15.4°C on June 5 and 13.4°C on June 6, compared to an average daily maximum of -6.2°C. The previous June record was 13.3°C in 1998. This crisis underscores the urgency of addressing climate change, while Europe debates geoengineering as a potential solution, as covered in our related article: Solar Geoengineering: Europe risks watching while others hack the climate.
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For further reading, see the Wikipedia entry on sea ice.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/west-antarctica-is-missing-way-too-much-ice
