On Saturday, Antarctic sea ice coverage hit 19.51 million square kilometers. For those mathematically challenged, that’s a lot. In fact, it’s a new record high. This marks back-to-back years in which the South Pole has broken records – and environmentalists’ hearts.

In response, scientists are left – once again – scratching their heads as they contemplate what went wrong. University of Washington’s Jinlun Zhang is especially confused: “The overwhelming evidence is that the Southern Ocean is warming,” Zhang claims. “Why would sea ice be increasing? Although the rate of increase is small, it is a puzzle to scientists.”

That’s the funny thing about climate: You never know what she’ll throw your way. Yet scientists are left puzzled over their apocalyptic prophecies that continually fail to come to fruition.