Australian authorities said on Friday, March 2, 2018 that the sea ice cover in Antarctica has dropped to its second-lowest record.The latest figures may be a confirmation to a disturbing trend in global melting.
WHAT IS THE LATEST RECORD?
The daily ice area recorded was 2.15 million square kilometres, which is an all-time low.
According to Dr Rob Massom from the Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem CRC, the sea ice reached its lowest point on 18 February.
The recent photos show the aerial view of western Antarctic ice which is scored with cracks.
PREVIOUS RECORD
- This year’s summer low sea ice extent almost broke the existing minimum record of 2.07 million square kilometres, set in March last year when the extent was approximately 27 per cent below the average annual minimum since 1979
- The sea ice coverage has been tracking well below the long-term average since August 2016
- In 2017, the winter-time maximum sea ice extent was the second lowest on record at 18.05 million square kilomtres following closely on the heels of successive record highs in 2012, 2013 and 2014
