Antarctic Sea Ice Reaches Third-Lowest Annual Peak

• Antarctic sea ice hit its annual maximum of 17.59 million square kilometers (6.79 million square miles) on September 14, 2026.
• This represents the third-lowest maximum extent recorded by satellites since monitoring began.

Long-term Trends

• From 1979 to 2014, total Antarctic sea ice increased by approximately 1% per decade, with record highs observed between 2012 and 2014.
• A significant decline began in 2016, and the year 2023 saw both record-low minimum and maximum extents.
• Researchers are monitoring these changes to determine if the trend indicates long-term climate shifts or temporary statistical fluctuations.

Observation Methodology

• Scientists use satellites equipped with passive microwave sensors to measure natural microwave energy emissions, allowing for consistent observation through cloud cover.
• Key satellite data sources include:
  • Nimbus-7 (beginning in 1978)
  • Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) (beginning in 1987)
  • Aqua (2002–2011)
  • GCOM-W (JAXA) (since 2025)