Is the Antarctic ice increasing?

The Arctic regularly reaches ever smaller extents of end-of-summer minimum extents of sea ice. This changing sea ice extent is cited by the IPCC as an indicator of a warming world. However, sea ice extent is growing in Antarctica [1]. In fact, it’s recently broken a record for maximum extent.

How much ice does Antarctica gain each year?

The Antarctic ice sheet’s mass has changed over the last decades. Research based on satellite data indicates that between 2002 and 2020, Antarctica shed an average of 149 billion metric tons of ice per year, adding to global sea level rise.

Is Arctic ice increasing or decreasing?

Arctic sea ice reaches its minimum each September. September Arctic sea ice is now declining at a rate of 13% per decade, relative to the 1981 to 2010 average. This graph shows the average monthly Arctic sea ice extent each September since 1979, derived from satellite observations.

Is global warming affecting Antarctica?

Climate change in Antarctica is resulting in rising temperatures and increasing snowmelt and ice loss. Some of Antarctica has been warming up; particularly strong warming has been noted on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Is the Arctic freezing over again?

In 2020, it has been ice-free for months with no multi-year ice left at all. The whole Arctic Ocean is heading for ice-free conditions in the future, defined as less than one million square km (390,000 sq miles) of ice cover. Botton line: Why the freezing of Arctic winter sea ice has stalled in 2020.

Is the Antarctic Ice Sheet Losing Mass?

Accelerating total mass losses from Antarctica The GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite gravity mission shows that total mass loss in Antarctica is accelerating over time. They found that total mass loss increased by 26 ± 14 gigatonnes per year from 2002 to 20099.

How much of Antarctica is ice free?

Without the its ice, Antarctica may be the lowest lying continent. The greatest known depression of bedrock – the Byrd Subglacial Basin – lies at 2,538 m below sea level. Only about 0.4% of Antarctica is not covered by ice.

Is Arctic ice decreasing?

We lose Arctic sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years, the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic has declined by a stunning 95%. If emissions continue to rise unchecked, the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer by 2040. Sea ice loss has far-reaching effects around the world.

Is Arctic ice shrinking?

Sea ice in the Arctic has decreased dramatically since the late 1970s, particularly in summer and autumn. However, after 2014, Antarctic ice extent began to decline, reaching a record low (within the 40 years of satellite data) in 2017, and remaining low in the following two years.

What is the biggest threat to Antarctica?

Threats

Climate change. Climate change is the greatest long-term threat to the region.
Increased fishing pressure and illegal fishing.
Marine pollution. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been measured around Antarctica and detected in wildlife.
Invasive species.

Is Antarctica getting warmer?

Antarctica seems to be both warming around the edges and cooling at the center at the same time. Sea ice extent surrounding Antarctica has trended higher since satellite measurements began in 1979. The central and southern parts of the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula have warmed by nearly 3 °C.