Antarctica is currently experiencing an unusually prolonged heat wave, with temperatures potentially setting new records. Recent data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals that large sections of the continent have seen temperatures 10 to 12°C (18 to 21.6°F) above average for late July 2024, compared to the 1991-2020 reference period.
Notably, some days in East Antarctica recorded temperatures up to 25°C (45°F) above average. Provisional data from Syowa and Halley stations suggest these locations may have set new temperature records for July and August.
Image credit: polar man john/Shutterstock.com
Thomas Caton Harrison, a Polar Climate Scientist at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), emphasized the unusual length and scale of the heat wave. “It’s not surprising to have occasional temperature spikes of ~25°C [45°F] above normal. What’s remarkable is the prolonged warmth over a large area of East Antarctica from late July into early August,” he told us.
Heatwaves in Antarctica are not new, but evidence indicates they may be becoming more frequent due to human-driven climate change. For instance, March 2022 saw temperatures rise by up to 40°C (72°F) above seasonal averages, impacting 3.3 million square kilometers (1.21 million square miles) of East Antarctica.
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle from BAS underscores the importance of understanding these extreme events. “Extreme temperature and weather events are breaking records globally, and Antarctica is no exception. It’s crucial to improve our understanding of how climate change affects the severity and frequency of such events in Antarctica,” he said.
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