The continent reached its annual maximum ice coverage this year on Sept. 10, about 13 days earlier than average.
Sea ice levels around Antarctica just registered a record low - and by a wide margin - as winter comes to a close, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The milestone adds to worries that Antarctic sea ice may be entering a state of decline brought on by climate change.
This year, Antarctica reached its annual maximum coverage on Sept. 10, about 13 days earlier than average. At that time, the annual ice coverage was at a record low of 6.55 million square miles - a whopping 398,000 square miles lower than the previous record low set in 1986. Sea ice around the polar regions plays a critical part in protecting the adjacent ice sheets. Less sea ice means less sunlight will be reflected back to space, causing waters to warm more and destabilize surrounding ice and glaciers. Coastlines are also much more exposed with less sea ice, removing a buffer that could help protect melting ice shelves or ice sheets.
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