Heatwaves at both of Earth’s poles alarm climate scientists

Climate scientists are concerned about the startling of heatwaves at both of Earth's poles, which could signal faster and abrupt climate breakdown.

At the weekend, the temperatures in the South Pole reached 40 degrees above normal.

At the same time, weather stations near the north pole showed signs of melting, with some temperatures 30C above normal, hitting levels normally attained far later in the year.

At this time of year, the polar regions should be cooling quickly after the summer and slowly emerging from the winter. It is unprecedented for both poles to show such heating at the same time.

The greatest warning yet on the impacts of climate breakdown has been issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The rapid rise in temperatures at the poles is a warning of disruption in Earth's climate systems. In the first chapter of a comprehensive review of climate science, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of unprecedented warming signals already occurring, resulting in some changes, such as polar melt.

Warming at the poles is a strong signal of the damage humanity is doing to the climate, and the melting could cause further cascading changes that will accelerate climate breakdown.

Dark sea absorbs more heat than reflective ice as the polar sea ice is melting. The melting of the ice raises sea levels.

The events unfolding were warned by scientists.

The Associated Press reported that one weather station in Antarctica beat its all time record by 15C, while another station that used to be deep freezes was 7C above freezing.