Climate Change Blamed for Record-Low Antarctic Sea Ice in 2023

According to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, the record-low levels of Antarctic Sea ice observed in 2023 were extremely unlikely to have occurred without the influence of climate change.

The researchers from the British Antarctic Survey analyzed data from 18 climate models and found that the 2023 sea ice minimum would be a 1-in-2,000-year event without climate change, but is four times more likely under current warming conditions.

In 2023, Antarctic Sea ice reached historically low levels, with a reduction of over 2 million square kilometers compared to typical winter extents.

The study suggests this dramatic decline could signal a lasting shift in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, with profound impacts on local and global weather patterns, as well as vulnerable marine life like whales and penguins.