Scientists are sounding the alarm about the massive losses suffered by the icy continent, as the sea to its west remains ice-free after record-breaking heat waves hit the region in early June
Satellite images show that the Bellingshausen Sea, located west of the Antarctic Peninsula, which was covered in ice until June (the beginning of winter in Antarctica), is now completely ice-free.
Experts estimate that around 650,000 square kilometers of sea ice are missing compared to the average for the period from 1991 to 2020. Three of the last four years have seen a decrease in sea ice cover in this region, which may mean that the ice there will never return.
As of June 10, 2026, the sea ice cover around the entire continent was approximately 11.4 million square kilometers, which is significantly less than the long-term average for that date of 12.6 million square kilometers.
The Argentine Meteorological Service had previously reported record temperatures of 15.4°C and 13.4°C at the Esperanza base, located on the northeastern tip of the peninsula, on June 5 and 6. These temperatures broke the previous record set in 1998.
According to scientists, these changes could be crucial for the ecosystem. Ice typically provides shelter for krill—microscopic crustaceans that form the base of the ocean's food chain. The retreat of ice significantly impacts the lives of penguins and seals, forcing them to migrate longer distances, which in turn affects the timing and success of their breeding seasons.
In addition, scientists fear that the loss of ice on the continental shelf will accelerate the melting of continental ice, as well as the infamous "Doomsday Ice".
