Seven to ten New Zealands.
That's the size of the area of sea ice that is missing from Antarctica this year.
More than 40 Kiwi scientists - who gathered for an emergency summit in Wellington on Tuesday - called the record low ice levels "deeply alarming".
They say it is driven by warming in the Southern Ocean and atmosphere and are calling for urgent cuts to climate emissions.
NIWA marine physicist Dr Natalie Robinson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
