As climate concerns continue to grow across the globe, one of the coldest places on Earth, Antarctica, just experienced a record breaking winter heatwave. On June 6, climate researchers registered extreme temperatures of 15.4ºC (59.7ºF) at Argentina’s Esperanza research station on the Trinity Peninsula, as reported by The Guadian. That is the warmest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica, especially at the start of winter. Not only did this break the previous record-high of 13.4ºC (56.1°F), but the current temperatures are roughly 20°C (36°F) above normal for this time of the year.
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This winter heatwave wasn’t localized to one specific part of Antarctica; several other weather stations confirmed abnormally high temperatures. Boonen Rivera, a Chilean weather station, reported temperatures nearing 13°C (55.4°F). Additionally, 160 km (100 miles) away from Argentina’s Esperanza station, temperatures reached 4.6ºC (40.3°F) on King George Island.
These record-high temperatures, paired with unusually warm and strong winds from the north, have already negatively impacted nearby glaciers. Luis Muñoz, a Chilean glaciologist, and his colleague, Natalia Mestre, recently ascended 500 meters up Collins glacier on King George Island, and found that rain was melting the glacial ice.
“There was a direct impact on the glacier, which should be receiving snow now. It should not be suffering ablation at this time of the year. This is obviously not good for the glacier,” Muñoz reported.
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Climate activists and researchers are sounding the alarm that changes are needed in order to slow down the rapid and circular cycle of glacial melt, and circumstances like this record breaking winter heatwave in Antarctica serve as a clear indication and warning sign that these changes are dire.
