Record-Breaking Heatwave Hits The Arctic, As Russia Saw Its Hottest Winter Ever

Researchers have discovered hot air has been escaping up from Siberia, over to the Arctic Ocean as well as some parts of Greenland.

And they claim that this heatwave is only going to get worse in the coming few weeks, resulting in spreading hot temperatures and boot the ice melting season earlier than normal.

Reuters

Reports have revealed that Russia had experienced its hottest winter ever, primarily due to Siberian heat. Siberia experienced temperatures up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), whereas the Arctic saw temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius).

Researchers claim that by mid-May, temperatures in the Arctic were the warmest ever recorded, this time of the season.

The Arctic has been warming at twice the rate as compared to the rest of the world due to climate change. And the unusual spike in temperatures shows that the rate is accelerating like never before.

Global warming meets climate change

A report by Washington Post revealed that the Siberian town of Khatanga recorded a temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees celsius) -- the average temperature here is actually supposed to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Siberia has been experiencing such temperatures since winter. Amidst this, Siberia has also been experiencing unusually large wildfires, along with depleting snow cover, which is a massive threat to the wildlife and natural habitat of the region.

Zack Labe, a graduate student at UC Irvine who studies Arctic climate change, said in a statement to the Washington Post, ¡°Although Siberia is known for wild temperature swings, the persistence and magnitude of warmth over the region so far this year has been astonishing.¡±

Reuters

He added, ¡°This week is an example of an extreme event, with summer-like temperatures over parts of Western Siberia thanks to a strong upper-level ridge. We can already see this reflected in snow cover data, as there are large negative departures of snow extent stretching across the entire Siberian coast of the Arctic.¡±

While worrying about the loss of sea ice, scientists are also closely monitoring the stability of Arctic permafrost (the ground surface that has stayed frozen for years). When this will start to warm up, it¡¯ll release greenhouse gases like carbon and methane which would only intensify the process.