Near Antarctica, Saltier Seas Mean Less Ice, Study Finds
The New York TimesMonday, June 30, 2025 at 9:48:29 PM
A new study reveals that saltier, warmer ocean water near Antarctica is mixing at the surface and speeding up sea ice melt. Researchers point to this briny layer as a key factor in the rapid ice loss observed in recent years, like the massive iceberg that broke off from the Larsen C ice shelf in 2017.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about melting ice—it’s a feedback loop. Warmer, saltier water means less ice forms, which in turn exposes more ocean to absorb heat, accelerating the cycle. For a planet that relies on polar ice to regulate temperatures and sea levels, that’s bad news. The Antarctic Peninsula is already one of the fastest-warming places on Earth, and this study adds another piece to the puzzle of why ice is disappearing faster than expected.
— Curated via WP Now’s
