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Article

Atmospheric Conditions Preceding Consecutive Extremely Low Summer Minima of Antarctic Sea Ice (2022–2024)

2022–2024년 연속적으로 발생한 남극 여름철 이례적인 해빙 면적 감소의 선행 대기 조건

Jiyeon Go1
,
Jae-Hong Moon123*
고 지연1
,
문 재홍123*
1Faulty of Earth and Marine Convergence, Earth and Marine Science Major, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
2Center for Sea-Level Changes, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
3Department of Earth and Marine Science, College of Ocean Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
1제주대학교 지구해양융합학부 지구해양전공 (63243) 제주특별자치도 제주시 제주대학로 102
2제주대학교 해수면변동연구센터 (63243) 제주특별자치도 제주시 제주대학로 102
3제주대학교 해양과학대학 지구해양과학과 (63243) 제주특별자치도 제주시 제주대학로 102
*Corresponding Author
28 August 2026. pp. 1-21
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Abstract

Following a gradual recovery trend after the abrupt decline in the mid-2010s, Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE) has remained persistently low since spring 2021, reaching three consecutive extremely low summer minima during 2022-2024. Utilizing satellite observations and atmospheric reanalysis data, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of Antarctic sea ice from March 2021 to February 2024, investigating the seasonal-scale contributions of preceding atmospheric patterns to this significant SIE reduction. During the 2021/22 and 2022/23 cycles, a deepening of ASL induced anomalously strong southerly winds over the Ross Sea, enhancing northward sea ice transport, while generating northerly wind anomalies that suppressed sea ice in the Weddell Sea. Persistent southerly wind anomalies during the freezing season advected sea ice northward, promoting a reduction in coastal sea ice concentration in the Ross Sea. The resulting expansion of open water enhanced solar radiation absorption in summer, accelerating coastal ice melt and triggered the record-low summer SIE. Conversely, the 2023/24 period featured a high-pressure anomaly linked to a weakening of ASL over both the Ross and Weddell Seas. This configuration sustained year-round northerly wind anomalies and unusual thermal advection, which hindered sea ice growth and ultimately led to the lowest winter maximum SIE in the satellite era. Our results demonstrate that the consecutive events of extremely low Antarctic summer sea ice during 2022–2024 were associated with distinct preceding atmospheric circulation patterns, resulting in different sea ice loss mechanisms in each case. These findings highlight the importance of considering both regional and event-specific atmospheric circulation in understanding Antarctic sea ice variability.

Keywords
Antarctic sea ice
record low SIE
Amundsen Sea Low
meridional wind flow
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Information
  • Publisher :Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양과학기술원
  • Journal Title :Ocean and Polar Research
  • Journal Title(Ko) :Ocean and Polar Research
  • Volume : 48
  • Pages :1-21
  • Received Date : 2026-05-26
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-29
  • Accepted Date : 2026-08-05
  • Published Date : 2026-08-28
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.4217/OPR.2026021
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