A hidden ocean change near Antarctica could have global consequences
Antarctic waters are getting saltier as sea-ice loss reshapes ocean circulation.
Antarctic waters are getting saltier as sea-ice loss reshapes ocean circulation.
The short version
- The rapid decline of Antarctic sea ice since 2016 has triggered a dramatic shift in a crucial part of Earth’s climate system, scientists say.
- In a paper published Wednesday, researchers documented a sharp salinity increase in a vast layer of the Southern Ocean, extending from 2,300 to 4,000 feet deep and encircling Antarctica.
- The shift reverses decades of freshening and echoes ocean changes usually associated with major global climate shifts over millennia but is now happening in just a few years.
What happened
Gayen said the study combined six independent datasets to track changes in the Southern Ocean from 2004 to 2024. The data came from Argo floats, which drift through the ocean and periodically descend to different depths to measure water properties such as density and salinity, then resurface to transmit the readings.
Why it matters
A 2025 study also detected increasing surface salinity linked to declining sea ice, he added.
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