Overview

• Antarctic sea ice levels in 2023 dropped to record lows, with some regions experiencing a decline of up to 80% below the winter average from 1991 to 2020.
• The loss of sea ice has doubled ocean heat transfer to the atmosphere in affected areas, fueling more frequent and intense storms in the Southern Ocean.
• Storm activity in newly ice-free regions increased by up to seven additional storm days per month compared to historical averages between 1990 and 2015.
• Scientists highlight potential disruptions to global ocean circulation, with denser surface waters threatening the stability of deep ocean currents that regulate global climate systems.
• Researchers caution that repeated years of low sea ice could amplify these effects, influencing weather patterns as far away as the Northern Hemisphere and tropics.