The Antarctic sea ice is a fascinating phenomenon and essential to our ecosystem. Each year, this expanse of ice forms and melts, following the cycle of the seasons. However, in recent years, worrying observations have been made about the reduction of Antarctic sea ice.
Indeed, according to surveys carried out by the American reference observatory, the Antarctic ice shelf has reached its maximum annual surface area, but this was the smallest ever recorded since the start of surveys in 1979. With a surface area of only 16.96 million km², or 1.03 million km² less than the previous record, the situation is worrying.
This decrease in Antarctic sea ice is all the more worrying given that for decades it remained stable, or even expanded slightly. However, since August 2016, a downward trend has been observed in almost every month of the year. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to the warming of the upper layer of the ocean, but predictive models struggle to explain this development.
The consequences of melting Antarctic sea ice can be disastrous. In addition to accentuating global warming by reflecting less of the sun’s rays than the ocean, the disappearance of the sea ice exposes the coasts of Antarctica to waves, thus endangering the stability of the ice cap made up of fresh water. . If the latter were to melt, it would cause a catastrophic rise in ocean levels.
Additionally, melting sea ice is already having a detrimental impact on Antarctic wildlife, particularly emperor penguins. A recent study showed that due to the early melting of the sea ice, many penguin colonies suffered a 100% loss of their chicks, which drowned or froze to death. This situation is alarming and highlights the urgency of taking measures to combat global warming.
In conclusion, the reduction of Antarctic sea ice is an alarming sign of the consequences of global warming. It is essential that we become aware of the importance of preserving this fragile ecosystem and implementing concrete actions to reduce our impact on the environment.