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UN weather agency confirms 18.3°C record heat in Antarctica

'This new temperature record is therefore consistent with the climate change we are observing'

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 02 Jul 2021 12:00PM

UN weather agency confirms 18.3°C record heat in Antarctica — This NASA handout photo obtained March 29, 2020 shows ripples in the surface of Denman Glacier in East Antarctica that throw shadows against the ice. The glacier is melting at a faster rate now than it was from 2003 to 2008. – AFP file pic, July 2, 2021

NEW YORK – The UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) yesterday confirmed a new maximum temperature of 18.3°Celsius for the Antarctic.

“The WMO has recognised a new record high temperature for the Antarctic continent of 18.3°C on February 6, 2020, at the Esperanza station (Argentina),” Sputnik reported the agency as saying in a press release.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said it was essential to verify the record high temperature for the Antarctic Peninsula. It is among the fastest-warming regions – almost 3°C over the last 50 years.

“This new temperature record is therefore consistent with the climate change we are observing,” Taalas said.

The previous record verified by the WMO for the Antarctic continent was 17.5°C. It was recorded on March 24, 2015, at Esperanza Research Station.

WMO simultaneously rejected the previous record for the Antarctic region of 20.7°C reported on February 9, 2020, on Seymour Island.

The WMO’s Weather and Climate Extremes Archive reviewed the weather situation on the Antarctic peninsula at the time of both records.

It found downslope winds producing significant surface warming resulted in local warming at Esperanza Station and Seymour Island. – Bernama, July 2, 2021