南极洲西海岸正面临前所未有的冬季海冰流失。卫星数据显示，与 1991 至 2020 年的平均水平相比，别林斯高晋海（Bellingshausen Sea）缺少了约 650,000 平方公里（250,000 平方英里）的海冰——这是一个相当于法国大小的区域。在 2026 年 6 月 10 日，整个南极洲的海冰面积仅覆盖了 11.4 百万平方公里（11.4 million square kilometers），而该日期的长期平均值则为 12.6 百万平方公里（12.6 million square kilometers）。这代表了四年内第三次出现的极低值。Dr. Will Hobbs 警告，不断变化的海洋动力学可能会永久阻止此处的海冰形成，从而破坏依赖冬季海冰覆盖以生存的磷虾群。
海冰的缺失加剧了大气变暖。在 2026 年 6 月，一场主要热浪使气温比正常水平高出达摄氏 25 度（华氏 45 度）。阿根廷的埃斯佩兰萨基地（Esperanza base）于 6 月 5 日和 6 日记录了摄氏 15.4 度（15.4 degrees Celsius）和 13.4 度（13.4 degrees Celsius）的峰值温度，远远超过了零下摄氏 6.2 度（minus 6.2 degrees Celsius）的典型平均最高气温。Dr. Will Hobbs 解释说，海冰通常会冷却温暖的北方空气，这意味著其缺失加剧了这场热浪。此外，Dr. Phil Reid 指出，缺失的海冰使冰架暴露，威胁到会加速松岛（Pine Island）和斯韦茨（Thwaites）冰川的冰量流失。
在生态方面，海冰的减少已造成严重的繁殖受阻。在 2022 年底，由低冰位引起的灾难性繁殖失败导致了数千只皇帝企鹅雏鸟死亡，促使联合国将该物种升级为「濒危」。来自英国南极调查局（British Antarctic Survey）的 Dr. Peter Fretwell 表示，海冰形成过晚且崩解过早降低了繁殖成功率，并延长了皇帝企鹅和阿德利企鹅的换羽旅程，同时迫使食蟹海豹迁徙。
Antarctica's west coast is experiencing unprecedented winter sea ice loss. Satellite data shows the Bellingshausen Sea is missing approximately 650,000 square kilometers (250,000 square miles) of sea ice compared to the 1991–2020 average—an area the size of France. On June 10, 2026, total Antarctic sea ice covered only 11.4 million square kilometers, compared to the long-term average of 12.6 million square kilometers. This represents the third extreme low in four years. Dr. Will Hobbs warned that changing ocean dynamics may permanently prevent ice formation here, disrupting krill populations that rely on winter ice cover for survival.
The absence of sea ice has worsened atmospheric warming. In June 2026, a major heatwave raised temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. Argentina's Esperanza base recorded peak temperatures of 15.4 degrees Celsius and 13.4 degrees Celsius on June 5 and 6, far exceeding the typical average maximum of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. Dr. Will Hobbs explained that sea ice normally cools warm northern air, meaning its absence intensified the heatwave. Additionally, Dr. Phil Reid noted that missing sea ice exposes ice shelves, threatening to accelerate ice loss from the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers.
Ecologically, the decline has caused severe breeding disruptions. In late 2022, a catastrophic breeding failure caused by low ice levels killed thousands of emperor penguin chicks, prompting the United Nations to upgrade the species to "endangered." Dr. Peter Fretwell from the British Antarctic Survey stated that late-forming and early-breaking ice reduces breeding success and extends molting journeys for emperor and Adelie penguins, while forcing crabeater seals to migrate.