On Monday, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) revealed that Antartic sea ice hit a new low this past winter due to climate change.
According to the NSIDC, sea ice levels peaked on Sept. 10 at 16.96 million 6.55 million square miles, its lowest maximum since records started being kept in 1979.
“It’s not just a record-breaking year; it’s an extreme record-breaking year,” NSIDC scientist Walt Meier said.
The decreasing levels of sea ice could have dire consequences for Antarctic animals like penguins, who breed on the ice, as well as contribute to rising sea levels.
