An Extreme Antarctic Event; 2025 Was Record Low Seasonal Sea Ice and Record High Iceberg Scouring

Antarctica is an extreme region in many ways and long term marine ice monitoring shows 2025 was the most of those extremes. Seasonal sea ice duration was observed daily at Rothera Research Station, Antarctica since 1985 and seabed markers were monitored for iceberg scour hits since 2002. Two decades of data showed that sea ice duration showed a strong inverse relationship with iceberg scouring. In 2025 sea ice duration was zero days, a record low and 68% of seabed markers were hit by icebergs, a record high. Long term monitoring data showed that ice scour responses to benthos were most significant after a two year lag period. Sustained seasonal sea ice losses in a warming world suggest these extremes may become normal in both levels in the coming decades and assemblages may take decades to recover and became pioneer dominated.