The Antarctic’s sea-ice has reached a record low and the consequences could be devastating, polar experts have warned.
Satellite data shows that the sea-ice is significantly below any previous recorded winter level (March-October). The area of missing ice is equivalent to five times the size of the British Isles.
“It’s so far outside anything we’ve seen, it’s almost mind-blowing,” said Walter Meier, who monitors sea-ice with the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Antarctica’s huge ice expanse regulates the planet’s temperature – the white surface reflects the Sun’s energy back into the atmosphere and also cools the water beneath and near it.
Without its ice cooling the planet, Antarctica could transform from Earth’s refrigerator to a radiator, experts have said.
Dr Meier told the BBC he is not optimistic that the sea-ice will recover to a significant degree.
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