Sea Ice in Antarcticabr Experiences Rapid Plunge Sea ice levels in Antarcticabr have been plummeting at anbr alarming rate since 2014. This is a drastic change,br as sea ice in Antarctica had beenbr slowly increasing since 1974. Satellite data shows that the recent declinebr of ice in Antarctica is equivalent to the amountbr lost in the Arctic over the past 34 years. Scientists are unsure what is causing the decrease,br as Antarctica receives little exposure to warming air,br which is a result of human-caused global heating. It may indicate further global heating, though thatbr can only be determined through continued monitoringbr of whether the ice recovers or continues to decline.