Science Visualized Climate

Antarctic sea ice has been hitting record lows for most of this year

Such a dramatic decline is expected in the Arctic, but is unusual down south

photo of Antarctic sea ice

The extent of Antarctic sea ice (pictured) has been much less for most of 2023 compared to all previous years going back to 1981.

MB Photography/Moment/Getty Images

By Carolyn Gramling

Something strange is happening to the Antarctic’s sea ice. The areal expanse of floating ice fringing the continent is not only at a record low for this time of year — surpassing a record just set in 2022 — but ice extent has been hitting record lows throughout the year.