Scientists have uncovered a dramatic and troubling shift in the Southern Ocean—one that could have permanent consequences for Antarctica and ripple across the globe. For decades, the ocean surface was growing fresher, supporting the expansion of Antarctic sea ice. However, since 2015, this trend has sharply reversed: the waters south of 50° latitude are now becoming saltier, with surface salinity rising unexpectedly, and sea ice is collapsing at an unprecedented rate.
New research, led by the University of Southampton and drawing on European satellite data, reveals that Antarctica has lost sea ice equivalent to the size of Greenland, marking the most significant environmental shift seen anywhere on Earth in recent decades. This saltier water enables deep ocean heat to rise more easily, accelerating ice melt from below in a dangerous feedback loop: less ice means more ocean heat, which leads to even less ice.
Alarmingly, the Maud Rise polynya—a gaping hole in Antarctic sea ice nearly four times the size of Wales, unseen since the 1970s—has reappeared, underscoring just how extreme the new conditions have become.
“If this salty, low-ice state continues, it could permanently reshape the Southern Ocean—and with it, the planet,” warns lead researcher Dr. Alessandro Silvano. Already, the fallout is global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and vanishing habitats for penguins and countless other species.
This isn’t just an Antarctic crisis. It’s a planetary one, unfolding in real time. Read More
News Credit: Phys.Org
Picture Credit: University of Southampton