Antarctic sea ice shrinks to record low surface for winter Antarctica's sea ice has hit its smallest surface on record for winter, the time of the year when it reaches its maximum size. According to US satellite data (National Snow and Ice Data Center) it reached 16.96 million square kilometres on September 10. Some scientists are concerned that this may be the beginning of a long-term trend of a decline of Antarctic sea ice, due to the warming of oceans. FRANCE 24's Science reporter Shirli Sitbon looks at the implications of the shift.