A major shift in Antarctic Intermediate Water salinity has been detected in the Southern Ocean, reversing decades of freshening in just a few years. This change, linked to rapid Antarctic sea ice loss since 2016, could disrupt global ocean circulation patterns that transport heat, carbon, and nutrients worldwide.
Background
Antarctic sea ice reached a record high in 2014 before plummeting to record lows in 2016 and again in 2023, a dramatic reversal that has puzzled climate scientists for years.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 28, 2026 at 09:38 PM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10