health
Record winter temperatures in Antarctic raise fears over speed of climate breakdown
Temperatures above 15C ‘very strange’ say scientists, as snow melts and rain falls on glaciers in usually frozen region
TL;DR
- Antarctic temperatures reached 15.4°C on June 6, breaking the previous winter record by 2°C.
- The region experienced a protracted heatwave with temperatures exceeding zero degrees for three consecutive weeks.
- Unusually strong warm winds from the north contributed to the record temperatures.
- Landscapes on King George Island changed from white to brown, grey, and green due to melting snow and ice.
- Rain was observed melting ice on Collins glacier, an unusual event for this time of year.
- Scientists attribute the increasing frequency of strong westerlies, linked to climate change, to such heatwaves.
- Concerns are raised about the potential impact of Antarctic ice melt on global sea levels and ocean circulation.