On September 14, 2026, Antarctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent, covering approximately 17.59 million square kilometers (6.79 million square miles), NASA reported in a statement released on October 12, 2026.
This figure represents the third lowest maximum recorded since satellite monitoring began in 1979, according to combined data from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
Unlike the Arctic, where the sea is surrounded by land, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean, allowing sea ice to expand more extensively during winter but also to extend into warmer latitudes and thus melt more during summer.
Antarctic sea ice typically reaches its maximum in September, at the end of the austral winter, before decreasing to its minimum in February. Interannual variability is significant, making short-term trend interpretation challenging.
From 1979 to 2014, the total extent of Antarctic sea ice increased by about 1% per decade, with record high extents observed between 2012 and 2014. However, this increase remains uncertain in the context of natural variability and the pronounced decline of Arctic ice.