Antarctica’s west coast missing an area of sea ice the size of France as temperatures peak 20C above average

Exclusive A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice depressing'

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Antarctica's west coast is missing an area of winter sea ice the size of France, sparking concerns for threatened penguins other marine life and global sea levels.

One expert said the loss of ice in the Bellingshausen Sea was depressing" and the failure of ice to form could have intensified a heatwave over the continent's peninsular last week that saw daytime temperatures peak at 15.4C which is more than 20C above average.