Satellites show Bellingshausen Sea missing 650,000 km2 of sea ice
This winter, Antarctica is seeing a huge gap in sea ice, about 650,000 square kilometers gone from the Bellingshausen Sea, which is bigger than France.
Instead of the usual icy buildup, satellite images are showing open water and some areas are over 20 degrees Celsius warmer than normal.
Scientists are pretty concerned because this isn't just rare; it could mean trouble for the planet.
Argentina's Esperanza records 15.4°C in June
Argentina's Esperanza station just hit a record June temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius, way above freezing.
The missing sea ice matters because it keeps oceans cool and protects glaciers like Thwaites and Pine Island, which have been linked to long-term sea-level rise.
Plus, sea ice supports microscopic algae that feed krill, and krill support penguins, seals, whales and seabirds, so less ice could shake up the whole Antarctic ecosystem.
Scientists are digging into what's causing these changes and what they might mean for our climate going forward.