November 11, 2024

30% Less Than Average: Antarctic Sea Ice Levels Lowest Ever Recorded

” Amazingly, the sea ice extent on February 20, 2022, was 2,128,000 km2, the tiniest in over 40 years of observations,” stated Project Professor Hironori Yabuki of NIPR. “This was found by technique to compare long-term information given that 1978, integrating numerous satellite observations. It is also a minimal worth (73.3%) compared to the typical minimum degree of 2,902,000 km2 for each year from 2012 to 2021.”
JAXAs Global Change Observation Mission– Water “SHIZUKU” (GCOM-W). Credit: JAXA
“This time, we discovered the phenomenon of minimum sea ice degree based on observation information from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) onboard the GCOM-W. We understand that sea ices function in the global environment varies depending on ice density, surface area conditions, and wandering conditions.
JAXA is likewise preparing to launch a new satellite, the Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle (GOSAT-GW), which will bring AMSR3, the follower to AMSR2.
“This brand-new technique and satellite will allow combined analysis with advanced sea ice protection,” stated Project Professor Yabuki.
Referral: “Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Lowest Ever Recorded,” National Institute of Polar Research.

“This time, we found the phenomenon of minimum sea ice level based on observation data from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) onboard the GCOM-W. We know that sea ices role in the worldwide environment differs depending on ice density, surface area conditions, and drifting conditions.

Contrary to popular belief, global warming isnt the direct cause of these low ice levels.
The ice levels were measured at practically 30% less than the average over the previous ten years.
The Antarctic sea ice extent was the lowest since satellite tracking began in 1978, according to a recent report from the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Japan. The satellite data used in this examination might be discovered on the Arctic Data archive System (ADS) website.
Antarctic sea ice concentration distribution on February 20, 2022. On that day, the Antarctic sea ice extent ended up being the lowest considering that satellite observations started. Credit: NIPR/JAXA
Contrary to expectations, current worldwide warming has not directly resulted in a decrease in the amount of sea ice in the Antarctic area. Understanding how sea ice degree varies over time in each region is essential for a range of reasons, including how it affects both the economy (by affecting the oceans circulation) and how to understand the effects of international warming.
Upper; Details of seasonal modifications for 2021-2022. There was no considerable decrease in sea ice degree till around September 2021, but a steady down pattern was observed from around October, and the sea ice degree remained at about the third smallest on record for the duration considering that the 2000s. Considering that the beginning of 2022, the sea ice level stayed relatively little, although no severe decline was seen, and the reducing trend continued after February, reaching 2,128,000 km2 on February 20, 2022, the most affordable value ever taped. Lower; Annual minimum of the Antarctic sea ice extent from 1979 to 2022. Credit: NIPR/JAXA
NIPR and JAXA picture temporal and spatial modifications in the Antarctic and Arctic sea ice degree and publish the information on the Arctic Data archive System (ADS) site as one of the activities of Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II). These information are based on observations by JAXAs Global Change Observation Mission– Water “SHIZUKU” (GCOM-W) (Figure). In the GCOM-W satellite observation data, the research study group discovered the particular modification in the sea ice extent data around the Antarctic Continent in February 2022, the summertime season.

On that day, the Antarctic sea ice level became the least expensive given that satellite observations started. There was no substantial decrease in sea ice level until around September 2021, but a steady down pattern was observed from around October, and the sea ice extent stayed at about the third smallest on record for the period given that the 2000s. In the GCOM-W satellite observation data, the research group discovered the particular modification in the sea ice extent information around the Antarctic Continent in February 2022, the summer season.