The decline of sea ice around Antarctica has led to a doubling of icebergs calved from the ice sheet and increased spikes in seawater temperatures, exacerbating the effects of heat accumulation in the Southern Ocean.

In recent years, sea ice extent at both poles has sharply decreased. In 2023, the Antarctic winter sea ice area fell 1.55 million square kilometers short of the expected average.

This loss is equivalent to disappearing an ice area nearly 6.5 times larger than the UK. Projections for 2024 suggest similarly low figures, with 2025 also anticipated to experience harsh conditions.

Edward Dodridge from the University of Tasmania and his team are investigating the implications of the long-term reduction of protective buffers provided by Antarctic sea ice.

The researchers discovered that the average temperature in the South Seas has increased by 0.3°C between latitudes 65° and 80° since 2016. Additionally, summer sea ice losses have similarly raised temperatures by 0.3°C.

Alarmingly, the heat from a year with particularly low sea ice does not dissipate by the next year. Instead, it continues to warm the ocean for at least the following three years, resulting in even greater temperature increases than expected, according to Dodridge.

“For some time, we’ve known that summer sea ice loss contributes to ocean warming because ice and its reflective snow cover keep heat at bay,” explains Doddridge.

“The fact that the ocean retains warming effects for three years complicates the consequences of warming in the Southern Ocean.”

Moreover, the dramatic reduction in sea ice may accelerate the loss of inland ice sheets. When sea ice freezes, it dampens the expansion of the South Seas, preventing contact with the ice sheets sitting above Antarctica. Once the protective sea ice barrier disappears, the coastal ice sheets become more susceptible to breaking apart.

The research found that for every additional 100,000 square kilometers of sea ice lost, six more icebergs larger than one square kilometer were formed. “We witnessed double the amount of icebergs at periods of low sea ice,” said Doddridge.

Additionally, the reduction in sea ice significantly impacts species that rely on transferring from the ocean to solid ground for survival. The study indicates that species like the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) and Crabeater Seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) may face severe challenges.

The scientific investigation in Antarctica is becoming increasingly difficult as the presence of sea ice is crucial for safely resupplying research stations.

Nellie Abram from The Australian National University remarks that “this analysis shows very few positives surrounding the loss of sea ice and its impact on the environment.”

“In years with extremely low sea ice, the Antarctic ecosystem continues to experience effects for years afterward. This isn’t just a one-time event,” Abram asserts. “There are numerous ways this loss of ocean ice influences Antarctic ecosystems.”