Antarctic sea ice reaches annual maximum extent in satellite imagery

The European Space Agency (ESA) has released satellite imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission showing Antarctic sea ice at its annual maximum extent. Captured on 30 September 2026, the image depicts ice spreading to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and covering parts of the Weddell Sea.

The captured area spans approximately 1200 km by 1700 km on the periphery of the Antarctic continent. The imagery shows various ice textures, including tightly packed sea ice and large floes comparable in size to Elephant Island. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), the Antarctic winter sea ice likely reached its peak on 14 September 2026.