Decline in Antarctic sea ice has increased salinity: Study

Bengaluru A new study has revealed that the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), a major water mass that carries the influence of the Southern Ocean into subtropical oceans, has become saltier and denser since 2015. The study, carried out by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the University of Melbourne, and the University of Southampton, noted that this increase in salinity could have implications for the ocean’s structure and circulation. According to IISc, sea ice forms across the Southern Ocean every year during Antarctica’s austral winter between May and July. Seasonal cycle “When temperatures rise, much of this ice melts, releasing freshwater into the ocean. This seasonal cycle helps shape the properties of the water beneath the surface, particularly the AAIW,” IISc said.