A vast area of Antarctica that should be covered in winter sea ice is instead lying largely exposed to the ocean, alarming scientists and raising fresh concerns about the future of the frozen continent. Satellite observations show that roughly 650,000 square kilometres of sea ice, an area comparable to the size of France, has failed to form in the Bellingshausen Sea off West Antarctica.

A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’

A vast area of Antarctica that should be covered in winter sea ice is instead lying largely exposed to the ocean, alarming scientists and raising fresh concerns about the future…