‘Simply mind-boggling’: world record temperature jump in Antarctic raises fears of catastrophe

Poleward winds, which previously made few inroads into the atmosphere above Antarctica, are now carrying more and more warm, moist air from lower latitudes – including Australia – deep into the continent, say scientists, and these have been blamed for the dramatic polar “heatwave” that hit Concordia. Exactly why these currents are now able to plunge so deep into the continent’s air space is not yet clear, however.

Even if they cannot explain the "how", it seems beyond doubt that the process can happen repeatedly.

When it happens repeatedly, one should plan for faster Antarcic ice loss, since the excess heat of the rest of the planet can now increasingly reach and melt glaciers.

That has implications for coastal regions everywhere on the planet. Don't build on the coast. Make plans for higher storm surges and sea level rise. And - needless to say - don't add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

3 comments

If I understand correctly from the article this already happened 2 years ago, so shit can only get worse from there, because the past year has been breaking new records as well.
THIRTY EIGHT jfc that's bad. A jump like that during the warm season could put the pole above freezing
Poleward winds, which previously made few inroads into the atmosphere above Antarctica, are now carrying more and more warm, moist air from lower latitudes – including Australia – deep into the continent, say scientists, and these have been blamed for the dramatic polar “heatwave” that hit Concordia. Exactly why these currents are now able to plunge so deep into the continent’s air space is not yet clear, however.
Even if they cannot explain the "how", it seems beyond doubt that the process can happen repeatedly.
When it happens repeatedly, one should plan for faster Antarcic ice loss, since the excess heat of the rest of the planet can now increasingly reach and melt glaciers.
That has implications for coastal regions everywhere on the planet. Don't build on the coast. Make plans for higher storm surges and sea level rise. And - needless to say - don't add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.