Antarctica Logs ‘Report-Smashing’ Low for Sea Ice, Says NASA

NASA could also be well-known for its area exploits, but it surely’s simply as involved with what’s occurring on our personal planet as it’s with what is going on on out yonder. Researchers from NASA and the Nationwide Snow and Ice Knowledge Middle are monitoring sea ice ranges on each ends of the globe. A report launched this week exhibits some grim knowledge.

Satellite tv for pc observations present that Arctic sea ice probably reached its annual minimal extent on Sept. 19, logging the sixth-lowest 12 months primarily based on data courting again to 1979. The information from the opposite pole was much more bleak. 

“Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest most extent on file on Sept. 10 at a time when the ice cowl ought to have been rising at a a lot quicker tempo in the course of the darkest and coldest months,” mentioned NASA in an announcement. Briefly, each areas are missing ice.

Sea ice is disappearing within the face of a warming world. Lack of sea ice impacts the individuals who dwell within the Arctic in addition to the animals and ecosystems on the polar areas. However it additionally performs a task within the world local weather. Learn a deep dive on the local weather penalties of a “sea ice free” Arctic.

“Whereas vivid sea ice displays many of the solar’s vitality again to area, open ocean water absorbs 90% of it,” mentioned NASA. “With better areas of the ocean uncovered to photo voltaic vitality, extra warmth will be absorbed, which warms the ocean waters and additional delays sea ice development.” 

Satellite tv for pc knowledge collected between March and September exhibits that Arctic ice cowl shrank from 5.64 million sq. miles (14.62 million sq. kilometers) to 1.63 million sq. miles (4.23 million sq. kilometers). To place that in perspective, NASA mentioned the misplaced sea ice may cowl the whole continental US. Analysis factors to a long-term decline in Arctic sea ice, with spring melting beginning earlier and autumn freeze-up beginning later. The ice has additionally turn out to be thinner over time.

NASA launched a video with a visualization of the ocean ice modifications: 

In Antarctica, satellite tv for pc knowledge exhibits that sea ice reached its lowest winter most extent on Sept. 10 with a protection space of 6.5 million sq. miles (16.96 million sq. kilometers). That is 398,000 sq. miles (1.03 million sq. kilometers) lower than the earlier file low, set in 1986. “It is a record-smashing sea ice low within the Antarctic,” mentioned NSIDC scientist Walt Meier.

NASA known as out some potential components for the shortage of Antarctic sea ice, together with warming ocean temperatures and the recurring pure climate sample of El Niño. El Niño delivers greater than regular floor temperatures in elements of the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, NASA declared summer season 2023 as the most well liked on file, pointing to local weather change and El Niño as culprits.

Human-caused local weather change is fueled by greenhouse fuel emissions. The Middle for Local weather and Power Options traces nearly all of these emissions — largely from the burning of fossil fuels for vitality — to China, the US and the European Union. The very best per capita emissions come from the US and Russia.  

The NSIDC notes that this 12 months’s Antarctic and Arctic sea ice numbers are nonetheless preliminary and could also be adjusted primarily based on continued observations. Researchers are engaged on a full evaluation whereas evaluating this 12 months’s knowledge with historic data. 

What’s key’s this possible is not an anomaly. Meier mentioned the Arctic modifications symbolize a “basic, decades-long response to warming temperatures.”