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The extent of the planet's oceans and seas that are covered by floating ice, it is now the smallest ever recorded, since related satellite observations began in the decade 1970. This means that this is also likely a negative global record in recent millennia. The latest data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado, according to New Scientist, reveal that this year the ice has retreated to historically low levels. In the Arctic North, the reduction in ice cover (which occupied an average area 12,1 million square kilometers in December 2016, about 1 million. sq. km. less than average 1981-2010) considered more permanent, as it is mainly attributed to the increase in temperature over time. While in Antarctica the phenomenon may be more temporary and due to the natural variation of temperatures. Normally the ice in the Arctic should expand rapidly due to winter. But this has not happened due to the continuous invasions of hot air masses in the area, which keep the temperature above average levels for’ at this time (three to five degrees Celsius above the seasonal average 1981-2010). In fact, to a point, that in some places the sea ice has shrunk. In the following years, Arctic ice floes may recover to a degree, but before falling back to even lower levels, according to the estimates of meteorologists. On the other hand, in Antarctica which now has summer along with the rest of the southern hemisphere, sea ice extent is decreasing faster than usual. Climatologists know that traditionally the climate in the southernmost continent of the planet is highly variable and they attribute the faster than normal reduction of ice rather to the temporary weakening of the winds.
The extent of the planet's oceans and seas that are covered by floating ice, it is now the smallest ever recorded, since related satellite observations began in the decade 1970. This means that this is also likely a negative global record in recent millennia. The latest data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado, according to New Scientist, reveal that this year the ice has retreated to historically low levels. In the Arctic North, the reduction in ice cover (which occupied an average area 12,1 million square kilometers in December 2016, about 1 million. sq. km. less than average 1981-2010) considered more permanent, as it is mainly attributed to the increase in temperature over time. While in Antarctica the phenomenon may be more temporary and due to the natural variation of temperatures. Normally the ice in the Arctic should expand rapidly due to winter. But this has not happened due to the continuous invasions of hot air masses in the area, which keep the temperature above average levels for’ at this time (three to five degrees Celsius above the seasonal average 1981-2010). In fact, to a point, that in some places the sea ice has shrunk. In the following years, Arctic ice floes may recover to a degree, but before falling back to even lower levels, according to the estimates of meteorologists. On the other hand, in Antarctica which now has summer along with the rest of the southern hemisphere, sea ice extent is decreasing faster than usual. Climatologists know that traditionally the climate in the southernmost continent of the planet is highly variable and they attribute the faster than normal reduction of ice rather to the temporary weakening of the winds.
