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September 19, 2023

Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Reaches "Mind-Blowing" Record-Low Winter Level
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Climate scientists are sounding the alarm over record-low levels of sea
ice off the coast of Antarctica ahead of the start of spring in the
Southern Hemisphere. Sea ice helps to prevent the rapid flow of ice from
Antarctica's glaciers into the ocean, which can drive global sea level
rise. Satellite data show 930,000 fewer square miles of sea ice extent
surrounding Antarctica compared to the September average - far below any
previous winter level. Walter Meier, a researcher at the National Snow
and Ice Data Center, told the BBC, "It's so far outside anything we've
seen, it's almost mind-blowing."


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