Cracking the Ice Myth: What’s Really Happening in Antarctica

Some folks will say just about anything to deny that humans are heating up the planet. Lately, I’ve seen way too many posts claiming that Antarctica is gaining ice. So let’s clear this up—again.

First: Weather is not the same as climate. A snowstorm or cold snap doesn’t mean global warming isn’t real.

Second: Climate change doesn’t move in a straight line. It’s more like a rollercoaster—up and down, but overall heading in a downward direction. That’s because Earth’s systems are complex. Natural patterns, like ocean currents and air pressure systems, can temporarily speed up or slow down warming in different places.

So, What Caused the Short-Term Gain in Antarctica?

In this case, there are very specific reasons for the short-term increase in ice:

Between 2021 and 2022, unusual patterns of high and low air pressure—one near 120°W and the other near 60°E in the Southern Ocean—caused strange weather and extra snowfall in the area.

As Earth’s temperature rises, more water evaporates from the surface. Scientists found that snowfall in Antarctica has gone up by 24% since the early 1800s, and recent measurements over the last 52 years back this up. Between 1970 and 2021, the average amount of snow piling up each year was higher than anything seen before the Industrial Revolution. This increase in snowfall is happening alongside rising air temperatures, about an 11% increase in snowfall for every 1°C of warming.

So What’s the Big Picture?

The planet is warming, glaciers are shrinking, and sea levels are rising. Short-term bumps in Antarctica’s ice don’t erase long-term trends.

For more truth behind the headlines, head over to the Fact-Check section on EcoNana.com—where myths melt and facts stick!