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On February 20th, 2024, Antarctic sea ice officially
reached its minimum extent for the year.

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This cycle of growth and melting occurs every year,
with the ice reaching its smallest size
during the southern hemisphere's summer.

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This year's melt season concluded with
a sea ice area of 768,000 square miles (1.99 million square kilometers) compared to the average minimum
observed during the satellite era (1981-2010).

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That is slightly larger than the state of Texas.

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According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center,
this marks the second-lowest sea ice extent recorded by
satellites, reflecting a trend of declining coverage over time.

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The extent of sea ice is critical for polar ecosystems

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and has far-reaching implications for
Earth's climate and weather patterns.