Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Nears Record Low

The annual minimum extent of Antarctic sea ice reached approximately 2.58 million square kilometers, a decrease of 260,000 square kilometers compared to the 1981–2010 average. In recent years, Antarctic sea ice has remained at historically low levels for several consecutive years. The continued shrinkage of sea ice not only disrupts the polar ecological balance but also further accelerates the positive feedback loop of global warming, posing a persistent threat to global climate stability, sea level changes, and marine ecosystems, and underscoring the urgency of global environmental governance and climate action.