Antarctic sea ice hits another record low: Natural fluctuation or a sign of climate change?

The icy waters off the coast of Antarctica are in a state of constant change. As the seasons change, the seawater surrounding the icy continent freezes as temperatures drop in the colder months and then mostly melts during the summer. Scientists have been observing this Antarctic seasonal cycle using satellites for more than 40 years, looking for signs of changes in sea ice extent. Understanding the resilience of Antarctic sea ice is vital because changes can have dramatic effects on global ocean currents, weather and regional climate. One metric scientists look at to gauge the health of sea ice extent is the annual minimum, which is usually around 3 million square kilometers and often falls in February.

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