NEWS

On Thin Ice: A science briefing about changes in Antarctic sea ice

The Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) and the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) have released a report on sea ice changes in Antarctica.

Antarctic sea ice provides many services for our planet. It is a cooling sunshade, an insulating blanket, a unique habitat, a protective wall, a global ocean pump.

The annual cycle of the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica freezes and melts in cycles. Any change to this affects the whole world.

And now, it seems this crucial life-support system for Earth may be faltering.

Summary in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-heart-of-ice-has-skipped-a-beat-time-to-take-our-medicine-202729

Full report: https://aapp.shorthandstories.com/on-thin-ice/index.html

Download the PDF: https://antarctic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ACEAS_OnThinIce_A44pp-print.pdf

More Stories

Microscopic Antarctic phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web | Image credit: Rachel Meyne

Microscopic shifts, global stakes – how Antarctic sea ice loss is disrupting ocean ecosystems

14 Oct 2025

Microscopic shifts, global stakes – how Antarctic sea ice loss is disrupting ocean ecosystems A new study led by Tamara […]

Read More
Photo of Sea Ice

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them

22 Sep 2025

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them Antarctica has […]

Read More
Photograph of Antarctica

Protect Antarctica to keep Earth habitable, scientists warn

22 Sep 2025

Protect Antarctica to keep Earth habitable, scientists warn Antarctica may feel distant, but its fate is deeply tied to ours. […]

Read More