The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has reported a slowdown in the rate of Antarctic sea ice loss, with levels falling well below average during November and December 2024.
According to the NSIDC’s analysis report released on Jan. 7, Antarctic sea ice loss has decreased after a period of record to near-record daily lows set in 2023 and 2024. The average loss during November and December last year was 140,000 square kilometers (54,000 square miles) per day, which is lower than the average recorded between 1981 and 2010.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, Antarctic sea ice extent was measured at 7.32 million square kilometers (2.83 million square miles), aligning closely with the average extent observed from 1981 to 2010.
The recent slowdown in sea ice extent loss has prompted a reevaluation of the speculation that Antarctic sea ice had entered a new regime of strongly reduced extent driven by oceanic influences. This idea emerged after below-average extents were observed starting in August 2016.
The report also noted that sea ice extent was above average in the western Weddell and Amundsen Seas, slightly below average in the Ross Sea, and near average in other regions. The overall low sea ice concentrations over large areas of the pack, combined with indications of a warm spring with high surface melting on the continent, set the stage for an interesting upcoming summer.
A recent study conducted by researchers led by A. N. Coonin from Brown University suggested that melting Antarctic sea ice could potentially trigger volcanic eruptions. The study, published in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, used simulations to study the effect of ice melt on the internal dynamics of magma chambers beneath the Antarctic sea.
The researchers found that as ice melts, the reduced weight on the volcano can cause the magma to expand, creating pressure on the rocks below and potentially triggering eruptions. This could lead to larger eruptions and hasten the melting of overlying ice through complex feedback mechanisms.
