Global Warming: Antarctica Experiences Unprecedented Summer Heatwave

With all the focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, let¡¯s not forget that global warming is increasing temperatures on the Earth¡¯s surface and in its oceans.

More recently, the icy continent of Antarctica experienced a record-breaking heatwave which saw temperatures exceed 20 degrees Celsius for the first time, scientists claim.

According to reports, the heatwave began at the east of the Antarctic Peninsula in late spring, 2019. It slowly spread across the rest of the continent over the next four months. By February 2020, temperatures shifted northwest and climbed to 20.75 degree centigrade.

Scientists at the Australian Antarctic Program recorded a heatwave event at Casey research station in East Antarctica. They recorded the highest ever minimum and maximum temperatures at Casey between 23 and 26 January this year.

¡°In those three days in January, Casey experienced a minimum temperatures above zero and maximum temperatures above 7.5¡ãC, with its highest maximum temperature ever, 9.2¡ãC on 24 January, followed by its highest minimum of 2.5¡ãC the following morning,¡± University of Wollongong biologist Dr. Sharon Robinson was quoted as saying on the Global Change Biology journal.

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¡°Heatwaves are classified as three consecutive days with both extreme maximum and minimum temperatures,¡± Robinson added.

Researchers have warned the sudden change in temperature could have a devastating impact on native plant-life and animals.

A principal scientist from the Australian Antarctic Division Dana Bergstrom said the hot summer would most likely lead to long-term disruption. "Most life exists in small ice-free oases in Antarctica and largely depends on melting snow and ice for their water supply," Dr Bergstrom said.

"Meltwater flooding can provide additional water to these desert ecosystems, leading to increased growth and reproduction of mosses, lichens, microbes and invertebrates. However, excessive flooding can dislodge plants, and alter the composition of communities of invertebrates and microbial mats."

Australian Antarctic Division atmospheric scientist, Dr. Andrew Klekociuk, said the warmer temperatures were linked to above-average temperatures across parts of Antarctica, and other meteorological patterns in the Southern Hemisphere that occurred during the spring and summer of 2019.¡±

¡°These patterns were influenced in part by the early breakup of the ozone hole in late 2019, due to rapid warming in the stratosphere ¨C the atmospheric region above 12 km altitude.¡±

According to reports, record temperatures have been documented across Antarctica during the continent's summer season. In February, scientists at Argentina's Esperanza research station recorded temperatures of nearly 18.3 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) on Antarctica's northern tip.

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