Science·July 19, 2026·Inside Climate News

The Case of the (France-Sized) Missing Antarctic Ice

Scientists discovered that **Antarctica's west coast is missing a chunk of sea ice the size of France** during June 2026, a stark anomaly as temperatures climbed up to **45 degrees Fahrenheit above normal**, preventing ice formation in the dead of winter. This missing ice, comparable to the size of France (and nearly Argentina-sized in other reports), highlights a substantial decline in sea ice coverage and suggests a tighter connection between Antarctic sea ice, cloud cover, and ocean heat absorption than previously modeled.

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