Antarctic Sea Ice Area

Unlike sea ice extent, sea ice area doesn't count holes in the ice pack as sea ice. This makes area numbers smaller than extent numbers and a better physical representation of the ice pack.

More details about sea ice area can be found under: Documentation

lowest minimum = 1.246 (1993)

2nd lowest minimum = 1.494 (2017)

lowest maximum = 14.162 (1986)

2nd lowest maximum = 14.195 (2017)

highest minimum = 2.438 (2015)

highest maximum = 16.324 (2014)

Note: The anomaly is calculated against the 2007-2016 average.

During the melting season the AWP model is updated daily as well. It estimates the solar energy absorbed by the ocean.

The current year is calculated from Near Real-Time Data and previous years from Final Data.

Data Download

Full year graph

A lower compaction ratio during the melting season indicates a higher melt rate. During the freezing season a low compaction ratio indicates lots of new thin ice.

The Antarctic sea ice is generally more dispersed than the Arctic sea ice because it is not restrained by landmasses. The storms in the southern ocean prevent the formation of a static ice pack.

A more detailed description with images is available under Documentation.