sea ice decline
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Credit: Pedro Szekely/Flickr
Antarctica experiences unprecedented midwinter heat wave
East Antarctica is experiencing a massive heat wave, with temperatures spiking 50 degrees above normal, highlighting the ongoing impacts of climate change on polar regions.
In short:
- Ground temperatures in East Antarctica have soared more than 50 degrees (28°C) above normal, marking one of the largest anomalies on the planet.
- The warming is linked to a weakened polar vortex, leading to a sudden stratospheric warming event that has disrupted typical weather patterns.
- Scientists warn that the decreasing sea ice and warming oceans are contributing to more frequent and intense heat waves in Antarctica.
Key quote:
“It is likely that having less sea ice and a warmer Southern Ocean around the Antarctic continent ‘loads the dice’ for warmer winter weather over Antarctica.”
— Edward Blanchard, atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington
Why this matters:
Imagine the freezer door being left open, and you’ll get the picture. As climate change continues to rewrite the Earth's weather patterns, these heatwaves could become more frequent, pushing Antarctica's ice into the danger zone. Read more: Scientists probe ancient history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and find unsettling news about sea level rise.
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