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Southern Ocean waters near Antarctica are getting saltier, study finds

Waters in the deep Southern Ocean are becoming saltier as sea ice around Antarctica shrinks sharply, a study has found, raising concerns about knock-on effects on global ocean circulation and climate. Researchers analysed six observational datasets from 2004 to 2024, including Argo floats. They found salinity and density in Antarctic Intermediate Water at about 700 to 1,200 metres have risen since 2016, reversing decades of freshening.