Unusually warm temperatures broke several records last week. One of the most remote research facilities in the world, the Concordia base in Eastern Antarctica, had a temperature of around -11 degrees Celsius. That is 70 degrees warmer than usual on the icy continent. At the North Pole, temperatures reached new heights. According to a climate scientist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the mercury hit around 39 degrees Fahrenheit. That's 50 degrees F (30 degrees C) higher than normal, and higher than the point at which ice begins to melt. Jonathan Wille, a post doc researcher at the University of Grenoble Alpes, said on his website that at this time of the year, temperatures are supposed to be falling in Antarctica, especially after the South Pole's summer solstice has already passed. Researchers told the Associated Press that the temperature spikes can be attributed to the climate crisis. Some factors in both warming events are regular occurrences, while other factors are connected to climate change according to a climate scientist at Colorado State University. Labe told Earther that the events were extreme and that they were a normal mechanism.
The Washington Post reported that satellite imagery showed snow and rain during the heat wave. The warm moist air was brought to the poles by atmospheric rivers.
The high-pressure system trapped the warm, moist air in the area. The systems are known for keeping storms away, but they can trap high temperatures, making a heat wave more likely. Labe said that there was something similar in the north.
The heat events would connect to climate change differently due to the unique geography of each pole, according to Labe. It's easier for researchers to connect variables in the ocean of the north to the changing climate there. Climate change is hard to pin down because of the different weather conditions and more variability of the ocean in Antarctica.
Trends over time are what really tell the story about how the climate crisis connects, according to Labe.
This type of event may be happening more frequently in the north. He said that it would have a big impact on the sea ice.
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