Scientists: Study Shows Antarctic Sea Ice Increasing

*Correction at 12:40 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15*

Antarctic Ice increasing?

Scientists have recently found that northward winds are creating a record growth of winter sea ice around Antarctica.

The research is has taken place during 19 years thanks to daily ice-motion measurements recorded by four satellites of the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. The study highlights how geography, weather and climate patterns have affected the planet's polar regions in various ways.

Scientists conducting the study found that changing wind patterns were causing the increase in the ice on the southern polar ice caps. "Until now, these changes in ice drift were only speculated upon, using computer models of Antarctic winds," Paul Holland, lead author of the study told the Examiner.

"This study of direct satellite observations shows the complexity of climate change," Holland added. "The total Antarctic sea ice cover is increasing slowly, but individual regions are actually experiencing much larger gains and losses that are almost offsetting each other overall."

The conditions that create sea ice are not found in the northern Arctic. If sea ice were to be blown away from the Arctic, it would quickly reach nearby continents. In Antarctica, which is surrounded by ocean waters, no barriers are available to keep ice being blown by winds into nearby waters.

However, these gains in sea ice do not make up for the losses at the opposite pole.

"The Arctic is losing sea ice five times faster than the Antarctic is gaining it, so, on average, the Earth is losing sea ice very quickly. There is no inconsistency between our results and global warming." Holland told U.K. paper the Guardian.