US Scientists Observe Slower Rate of Antarctic Sea Ice Loss

NSIDC said the recent slowdown in ice loss pauses the speculation that Antarctic sea ice had entered ‘a new regime of strongly reduced extent.’

A section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet viewed from a window of a NASA Operation IceBridge airplane on Oct. 31, 2016. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported a slowdown in the rate of Antarctic sea ice loss, saying that it fell well below average during November and December 2024.

“Antarctic sea ice loss has slowed after a prolonged period of record to near-record daily lows set in 2023 and 2024,” the NSIDC stated in its Jan. 7 analysis report.