•NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) report that Antarctic sea ice reached its annual maximum on September 14, 2026, when the ice cover reached about 17.59 million square kilometers (6.79 million square miles). The value is the third lowest maximum on record since satellite observations began, according to a NASA Earth Observatory report.
According to the NASA Earth Observatory, Antarctic sea ice typically reaches its maximum in September, at the end of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, and reaches its minimum in February. Unlike the Arctic, which is an ocean basin surrounded by land, Antarctica is a large landmass surrounded by ocean; this geographic feature provides more space for the sea ice to expand during the winter. But at the same time, the ice sheets extend further toward warmer latitudes, leading to more melting in the summer.
The article is an updated version of the Antarctic sea ice topic in the World of Change series, which is produced in collaboration with the NSIDC and tracks long-term changes in the Earth’s surface using satellite imagery.
Current data show that total Antarctic sea ice has increased by about 1% per year from 1979 to 2014. However, it is unclear whether this increase is a sign of a meaningful change; because the ice cover around Antarctica varies greatly from year to year. In 2012-2014, three consecutive years saw satellites record new records in the maximum extent of winter sea ice, during a period when Arctic ice sheets were in a steep decline.
To determine the extent of sea ice, scientists rely on satellites equipped with passive microwave sensors that measure the microwave energy naturally emitted by the Earth. Sea ice emits more of this energy than open water, so it stands out in microwave images. Microwaves pass through clouds, so satellites can observe sea ice regularly, regardless of weather conditions.
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