Antarctic sea ice levels hit a record low on June 27 as they shrank by nearly 2.6 million square kilometers. Photo/NOAA Climate/Reuters
WASHINGTON – Sea ice level Antarctica hit a record low on June 27 as it shrank by nearly 2.6 million Square Kilometers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that the number is equivalent to four times the size of the state of Texas or 20 times the area of the island of Java.
The area of the island of Java is estimated to be around 130,000 square kilometers, so when compared to the area of Antarctic sea ice of around 2.6 million square kilometers, this means that it has reached 20 times that. shrinkage it loud this compares with the period between 1981 and 2010, almost evenly around the continent’s margins, except in the Amundsen Sea, off West Antarctica, where sea ice grew and extended farther than average.
In total, Antarctic sea ice now covers approximately 4.5 million square miles or 11.7 million square km. The area is projected to grow in mid to late September, estimated to reach a maximum of around 7.1 million square miles or 18.4 million square km.
The ice will then shrink during the Antarctic spring and summer to reach an annual minimum of about 965,000 square miles or 2.5 million square km. Usually recorded in late February to early March.
“In the midst of its winter growth phase, Antarctic sea ice has reached record lows so far this year. The area of sea ice is nearly half a million square miles below the previous low [untuk hari ini]observed in 2022,” NOAA staff wrote on Twitter quoted by SINDOnews from the Live Science page, Wednesday (5/7/2023).
Antarctic sea ice area shows more variation in shrinkage and growth from year to year than Arctic sea ice. “However, the current record low is unusual,” said the NOAA representative.
Researchers have known for some time that sea ice in the Arctic is on a long-term declining trajectory. The accelerating rate of decline and dramatic and potentially permanent landscape changes due to climate change.
Trends in Antarctica are less clear, with the all-time highest winter sea ice recorded in 2014. Researchers measured Antarctic sea ice levels to have been consistently below average from 1981 to 2010.
“The current extraordinary behavior of Antarctic sea ice raises the question of whether this could be the start of long-term trends related to climate or ocean change. However, answering that question will require more time, data and research,” the NOAA representative said.
(wib)
2023-07-05 01:00:08
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