In the midst of the Antarctic winter, a positive temperature was recorded at Akademik Vernadsky station
Kyiv • UNN
The temperature at the Ukrainian Antarctic station rose to +4.5°C during the winter. Scientists attribute this to an atmospheric river and warn of possible consequences for Antarctic ecosystems.
Recently, a significant increase in the maximum daily temperature was recorded at the Ukrainian Akademik Vernadsky station. The figures have risen to above zero despite the fact that the Antarctic winter is now underway. This is reported by UNN with reference to a statement of the National Antarctic Science Center.
Details
On July 16, a significant increase in the maximum daily temperature was recorded at the Ukrainian Akademik Vernadsky station. It increased by more than 8 degrees (from -4.2°C to 4.5°C)
It is noted that the above-zero temperature lasted for almost two days - July 16-17. At that time, it was raining and sleeting.
Temperatures slightly above 0 degrees were also recorded at the British Rosera station, which is located 300 km south of Vernadsky, i.e. closer to the South Pole.
Scientists explain that the temperature spike is due to the atmospheric river, a narrow band with a high concentration of atmospheric moisture that quickly transports warm masses of air and moisture from the tropics to the polar regions.
If such cases (of warming - ed.) become more frequent, glacial melting will intensify, which in turn will lead to the gradual desalination of coastal waters. And this threatens to destroy various ecosystems of both the white continent and the ocean around it
The polar explorers add that over the past 5 years, temperatures at the station have rarely dropped below -10°C, while for the previous 5 years they were just as rare, but were below -15°C.
At the same time, back in the winter of the 1980s, temperatures dropped to -30°C.
That is, warming is very pronounced in Antarctica, and it is a trend that affects our entire planet
Recall
According to the data of the Borys Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory, since the beginning of July, 13 temperature records have already been recorded in Kyiv
