Antarctica saw a rare short-term gain in ice between 2021 and 2023, adding an estimated 108 billion tons annually, according to a recent study published in Science China Earth Sciences. The increase was attributed largely to unusually heavy snowfall in East Antarctica.
Despite the temporary uptick, scientists caution that the findings do not alter the broader trajectory of Antarctic ice loss. West Antarctica continues to experience significant melting, contributing to global sea-level rise—a trend researchers say remains a pressing concern.