Antarctica Experiences Most Intense Heat Wave on Record
A recent study has revealed that temperatures near the eastern coast of Antarctica spiked a staggering 70 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) above normal in March 2022, making it the most intense recorded heat wave ever recorded on Earth. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Washington, found that this temperature anomaly was the largest ever measured anywhere in the world.
During the heat wave, scientists on-site were seen wearing shorts and even removing their shirts to enjoy the unusual warmth. Such high temperatures in this region of the world were previously thought to be unthinkable.
According to Edward Blanchard-Wrigglesworth, the author of the study, it was a remarkable event that caught their attention. The researchers delved into the causes of this unimaginable heat wave, particularly at a time of the year when there is less sunlight. They discovered that while the extreme heat is largely part of Antarctica’s natural variability, the warming climate had some influence on it.
The start of the heat wave was attributed to unusual winds that allowed a warm mass of air from southern Australia to move to East Antarctica in just four days. These winds also brought significant moisture, resulting in snow, rain, and melting on the eastern coast of the ice sheet.
The study also found that big swings in weather are not uncommon in the polar regions. The largest temperature changes from normal occur at high latitudes such as Antarctica, where inversion layers exist. In these areas, a warm air mass can displace the cold air near the ground, leading to warm weather anomalies. However, it is worth noting that places like Europe or the United States never experience such extreme heat waves.
While the complete role of climate change in this specific heat wave is still under investigation, the study asserts that it didn’t play a significant role in boosting temperatures. Computer models run by the team indicate that climate change only increased the heat wave by 2 degrees Celsius. Nonetheless, by the end of the century, climate change could potentially intensify such heat waves by an additional 5 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Jonathan Wille, a researcher not involved in the study, emphasized that the Antarctic Plateau experiences some of the highest temperature variability in the world, so it’s not surprising that this heat wave is the largest observed temperature anomaly anywhere.
Blanchard-Wrigglesworth warns that if more heat waves like this occur in a warmer world, it could have dire consequences for the Antarctic ice sheet. Adding an extra 5 or 6 degrees Celsius on top of the current anomaly could bring temperatures very close to the melting point. This could trigger significant impacts in the future that are not yet fully understood.
Although the specific influence of climate change on the atmospheric dynamics that caused this heat wave is difficult to quantify, it cannot be ruled out. Unusual tropical downpours prior to the heat wave may have created an atmospheric circulation pattern that was previously unseen, leading to the extreme temperatures.
As scientists continue to study and monitor the effects of climate change on Antarctica, it is clear that extreme heat events like this one could have profound implications for the fragile ecosystem of the continent and its ice sheet.