Antarctic Sea Ice Hits Third-Lowest Level on Record

Antarctica's winter sea ice has reached its third-lowest level ever recorded, scientists confirmed. The ice covered about 1 million square kilometers (almost 400,000 square miles) less than the long-term average. This means the four lowest years for Antarctic sea ice have all occurred in the past four years. Sea ice is a vital part of Earth's climate system and is critical for marine life. Scientists say global heating is likely driving these losses, which they describe as a "now problem" — not a distant threat.