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[INTERNATIONAL] · Argentina, United Kingdom, India, Spain, United States · 7 sources

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Part of situation: Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extent and trends (8 clusters)

Antarctic and Arctic sea ice reach record low levels in 2026

sea ice extent climate change Antarctica Arctic Ocean satellite observations

Polar sea ice levels in both the Arctic and Antarctic have reached critical lows in 2026. In the Antarctic, the winter sea ice peaked on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometers. This figure is approximately one million square kilometers below the long-term historical average. Scientists note that the four lowest winter sea ice maximums on record have all occurred within the last four years, suggesting a significant shift in the Antarctic climate system.

In the Arctic, the annual minimum sea ice extent was reached on September 12, covering an estimated 4.6 million square kilometers. This measurement ties with the years 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record. While recent cloud cover has contributed to some relative stability in September levels, the overall trend remains significantly below historical averages.

Separate research published in the journal Nature indicates complex regional variations in Antarctic ice mass. Between 2021 and 2023, the continent gained roughly 695 billion tons of ice, largely driven by significant increases in East Antarctica. However, this growth was offset by continued ice loss in parts of West Antarctica, illustrating the complex interplay of thermal anomalies in distant ocean regions.

Entities

Antarctica · Arctic Ocean · NASA · National Snow and Ice Data Center · University of Colorado Boulder · Walt Meier

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

El Ártico alcanza uno de sus niveles mínimos de hielo más bajos registrados [eluniverso.com]
L'extensió del gel marí de l'Àrtic a finals d'estiu torna a marcar mínims [beteve.cat]
Antarctica’s winter sea ice peaks at 3rd lowest level on record [www.nationalheraldindia.com]
Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’ [www.theguardian.com]
Un océano a miles de kilómetros llenó de nieve la Antártida: así funciona el efecto dominó del clima [www.meteored.com.ar]
Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2026 Annual Minimum Extent [alaska-native-news.com]
En la Antártida, el hielo marino llegó a uno de los niveles más bajos que se hayan documentado | Radio Bicentenario - FM 103. 3 en vivo - Tucuman [www.radiobicentenario.com.ar]