That's about 1 million square kilometers less ice than the previous winter record set in 1986.
REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsThe summer Antarctic sea ice extent also hit a record low in February, breaking the previous mark set in 2022.
Sea ice extent there grew between 2007 and 2016.
The shift in recent years toward record-low conditions has scientists concerned climate change may finally be presenting itself in Antarctic sea ice.
The study found that warming ocean temperatures, driven mainly by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, are contributing to the lower sea ice levels seen since 2016.
Persons:
It's, it's, Walt Meier, NSIDC, Ueslei Marcelino, Meier, Ariaan Purich, Jake Spring, Bill Berkrot
Organizations:
U.S, National, Data, REUTERS, Communications, Australia's Monash University, Thomson
Locations:
Antarctica