The maximum extent of Arctic sea ice this winter was the lowest on record Tony Skerl/Shutterstock
Human-caused climate change has ravaged sea ice at both ends of Earth in what may be a disturbing new normal. February this year saw global sea ice extent hit a record low as sluggish ice growth during the Arctic winter coincided with the fourth consecutive year of extremely low sea ice cover during the Antarctic summer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a missing piece of a continent,鈥 says at the University of Tasmania in Australia.
