Antarctica’s Sea Ice Takes a Dramatic Turn: 2026 Winter Peak Ranks Third Lowest on Record
Antarctica’s sea ice has undergone a striking reversal over the past decade. After decades when winter ice around the continent generally expanded slightly, the trend changed sharply after 2015. In 2026, Antarctic sea ice reached its annual winter maximum on September 14, covering approximately 17.59 million square kilometres, or 6.79 million square miles. That was the third-lowest winter maximum…
