{
  "id": 11395968,
  "title": "A million square kilometres short: the ice ring around Antarctica keeps shrinking",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/a-million-square-kilometres-short-the-ice-ring-around-antarctica",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-02T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MercoPress",
    "slug": "mercopress",
    "url": "https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/02/a-million-square-kilometres-short-the-ice-ring-around-antarctica-keeps-shrinking"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The sea ice encircling Antarctica has reached its third-lowest winter maximum in the past four years, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. The extent peaked at 17.59 million square kilometres on September 14, a decline of more than a million square kilometres below the historical average. This trend has continued, with the winters of 2023 and 2024 also recording lower maxima. While sea ice itself does not raise sea levels as it is already floating, its retreat serves as an indicator of the Southern Ocean's state. Scientists are concerned about the persistent low values, as it suggests a shift from the stable or increasing conditions observed for several decades. The recent July and August months also saw the fifth and fourth-lowest extents on record, respectively, with the five lowest Julys all occurring since 2022. The shortfall against the average has reached about 650,000 square kilometres in the Bellingshausen Sea. Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz attributes the records to a trend of very low anomalies since at least 2017, with winter extent failing to exceed the historical average since 2021. Some researchers speculate that the current El Niño may have influenced the decline through changes in winds and storm tracks, though they agree it is not enough to fully explain the phenomenon. Water temperature seems to be a crucial factor, as Antarctic sea ice had remained stable or even grown slightly until 2016, unlike in the Arctic. The debate continues on whether the decline represents a lasting shift in the ice patterns.",
  "summary": "The sea ice surrounding Antarctica reached its third-lowest winter maximum this year since satellite records began in 1979, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. The four lowest maxima in the record have occurred in the last four years.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}