Politics

Antarctica’s Hottest Ever Temperature Record Was Just Broken

This is fine.

by Rebecca Shaw  8 February 2020
Climate Change

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The record 18.3 degrees celsius was measured at Esperanza, Argentina’s research base on the tip of the continent’s peninsula. 

A tweet from Argentina’s meteorological agency revealed the record. Temperature records from Esperanza date back to 1961.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will need to verify the record, but according to spokesperson Randall Cerveny, it seems legit. He said in a statement that “Everything we have seen thus far indicates a likely legitimate record..” He also gave a possible explanation (besides that the earth is generally dying) for the number.

“The record appears to be likely associated (in the short term) with what we call a regional “foehn” event over the area:  a rapid warming of air coming down a slope/mountain.”

That’s very different to what I personally thought “foehn” meant, which was:

Far

Out

Earth is literally

Hell

Now.

But i’m not a scientist. It is the warmest part of the year in Antarctica, but this sort of balmy t-shirt and thongs weather is still unusual. Another WMO spokesperson, Clare Nullis, said the temp “is not a figure you would normally associate with Antarctica even in the summertime.”

This record is obviously huge cause for concern, with the WMO reporting that Antarctic Peninsula is among the fastest warming regions of the planet, almost 3°C over the last 50 years. The previous highest record was only set in 2015, and was almost a full degree less. Rising temperatures are particularly concerning in this area of the world, as it can lead to melting of the ice sheet, which in total would be enough to raise global sea levels by 60 metres.

But maybe this new temperature record will also set another record! Maybe it will finally spur our government and other governments around the world into taking the immediate action needed in order to respond to the crisis! But probably not.