By 2023, Antarctic sea ice had shrunk to an all-time low, with winter ice coverage falling more than 2 million square kilometers below normal, roughly ten times the size of the UK. This significant drop was particularly notable given the steady increase in sea ice observed until 2015, making the sudden drop even more unexpected.
Using a large climate data set called CMIP6, British Antarctic Survey researchers examined this unprecedented loss of sea ice. They analyzed data from 18 different climate models to understand the likelihood of such a significant reduction in sea ice and its link to climate change. (BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY, more at scitechdaily.com)