Fears grow over Antarctic ice loss.

Antarctic sea ice has reached near-record low levels for the third consecutive year, raising concerns about a permanent "regime shift" caused by climate change. This could have significant consequences for Antarctic ecosystems and the global climate. The decline in sea ice cover has surprised researchers, as it increased until 2015 while Arctic sea ice declined. The extent of the change suggests a combination of natural variability and climate change. The causes of the sea ice changes are not fully understood, but factors such as extreme temperatures, wind patterns, ocean temperature, and salinity are believed to play a role. The loss of sea ice could impact Antarctic ecosystems, ice shelves, and global ocean circulation, potentially leading to sea level rise and drastic climate effects. [Extracted from the article]

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