Antarctic sea ice shows record growth, climate change likely cause

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Antarctic sea ice is seeing a rapid period of growth this year, but that doesn't mean the Poles are safe from climate change, says NASA.

NASA reported the ice measurements to be at 7.78 million square miles (20.14 million square kilometers), a day after it exceeded the extent of 20 million square kilometers (7.72 million square miles).

"The planet as a whole is doing what was expected in terms of warming. Sea ice as a whole is decreasing as expected, but just like with global warming, not every location with sea ice will have a downward trend in ice extent," said Claire Parkinson of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

The growth of sea ice is not evidence against the effects of climate change but rather the consequence of it. This could be the result of the rapid melting of land ice which sends fresh water into the ocean making it freeze at higher decision. It could also be the result of changing wind patterns and other external factors.