
Antarctic sea-ice plays an important role in regulating Earth’s energy budget
Published 29.10.2021
Using decades of satellite observations, Finnish and Norwegian scientists calculated the warming effect caused by changes in the snow and ice cover of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The expansion of Antarctic sea-ice between 2000 and 2015 balanced out the melting of the Arctic region by creating a cooling effect, but significant reduction in Antarctic sea-ice during 2016–2018 completely reversed the trend. These results highlight the previously little-known but important role of the Antarctic sea-ice in regulating Earth’s energy budget.