Polar Journal

Antarctica in 2025: A Comprehensive Overview of Recent Developments

1. Record Low Sea Ice Extent In 2025, Antarctica recorded historically low levels of sea ice for the fourth consecutive year. Once thought to be less susceptible to warming due to its insulating circumpolar winds, recent satellite data have contradicted earlier models. The implications of this trend are stark: reduced sea ice affects not only global sea levels but also disrupts the continent’s ecological balance. Species like krill—which underpin much of the Southern Ocean’s food web—depend on sea ice for breeding. A drop in sea ice thus resonates across the ecosystem, threatening penguins, seals, and whales.