© National Snow and Ice Data Center
"This exceeds the past record for the satellite era by about 320,000sq km, which was set in April 2008,'' the centre said.
Increased ice cover in Antarctic continues to be at odds with falling Arctic ice levels, where the summer melt has again pushed levels well below the average extent for 1981-2010. The centre said while the rate of Arctic-wide retreat was rapid through the first half of April, it had slowed.
The April Arctic minimum was 270,000sq km higher than the record April low, which occurred in 2007. The Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies were greatest in the eastern Weddell and along a long stretch of coastline south of Australia and the southeastern Indian Ocean. The centre said the increased ice extent in the Weddell Sea region appeared to be associated with a broad area of persistent easterly winds in March and April, and lower-than-average temperatures.
Full story at the Australian, here. h/t to The GWPF
Antarctica has been cranking it up, lately. Pumping out sea ice like a giant snow machine. Isolated by winds and ocean currents (AAC), what would happen if a truly major portion of an extended sea ice shelf were to break off and get sucked north? Ice cubes in the South Altantic would surely be a 'climate changer'. Sort of an Antarctic version of a Northern Polar Vortex winter.
We've never seen sea ice like this in modern times. Then again, we've never documented a Solar Grand Minimum like this, either.