[shkkmo]

Right, as that article explains: The increasing melting of the antarctic ice cap makes it easier for the sea ice to expand because it leads to more fresh water (with a higher freezing point) on the surface of the ocean.

> How does the melting of land ice matter to sea ice formation? The resulting meltwater is fresher than the seawater. As it mixes with the seawater, the meltwater makes the nearby seawater slightly less dense, and slightly closer to the freezing point than the ocean water below. This less dense seawater spreads out across the ocean surface surrounding the continent, forming a stable pool of surface water that is close to the freezing point, and close to the ice onto which it could freeze.