Antarcticas sea ice reaches a record low second year in a row

The amount of sea ice surrounding Antarctica has reached its lowest level for the second year in a row. In February, Antarctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent of 1.79 million square kilometres, which is roughly 40% less than the average between 1981 and 2010, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) . This is the lowest maximum extent on record since satellite measurements began in 1979. In Antarctica, summers and winters are flipped compared to the Northern Hemisphere. So, sea ice normally reaches its maximum extent in September, when sea ice covers around 18.5 million…