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Difference between revisions of "Climate of Antarctica"
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[[File:Horlick Mountains.jpg|thumb|400px|Snow and ice surrounding the Horlick Mountains]] | [[File:Horlick Mountains.jpg|thumb|400px|Snow and ice surrounding the [[Horlick Mountains]]]] | ||
The '''Climate of Antarctica''' is the coldest on the Earth. | |||
Antarctica's lowest air temperature record was set on 21 July 1983, with −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F) at Vostok Station in East Antarctica. Satellite measurements have identified even lower ground temperatures, down to −93.2 °C (−135.8 °F) at the cloud free East Antarctic Plateau on 10 August 2010. It is also extremely dry (technically a desert), averaging a mere 166 mm (6.5 in) of precipitation per year. On most parts of the continent the snow rarely melts and is eventually compressed to become the [[glacier]] ice that makes up the [[ice sheet]]. Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, because of the [[katabatic wind|katabatic winds]]. Most of Antarctica has an ice cap climate (Köppen EF) with very cold, generally extremely dry weather. | Antarctica's lowest air temperature record was set on 21 July 1983, with −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F) at Vostok Station in East Antarctica. Satellite measurements have identified even lower ground temperatures, down to −93.2 °C (−135.8 °F) at the cloud free East Antarctic Plateau on 10 August 2010. It is also extremely dry (technically a desert), averaging a mere 166 mm (6.5 in) of precipitation per year. On most parts of the continent the snow rarely melts and is eventually compressed to become the [[glacier]] ice that makes up the [[ice sheet]]. Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, because of the [[katabatic wind|katabatic winds]]. Most of Antarctica has an ice cap climate (Köppen EF) with very cold, generally extremely dry weather. | ||
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::''Main article: [[Global warming]]'' | ::''Main article: [[Global warming]]'' | ||
The continent-wide average surface temperature trend of Antarctica is positive and significant at >0.05 °C/decade since 1957. The [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]] has warmed by more than 0.1 °C/decade in the last 50 years, and is strongest in winter and spring. Although this is partly offset by fall cooling in East Antarctica, this effect is restricted to the 1980s and 1990s. | The continent-wide average surface temperature trend of Antarctica is positive and significant at >0.05 °C/decade since 1957. The [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]] has warmed by more than 0.1 °C/decade in the last 50 years, and is strongest in winter and spring. Although this is partly offset by fall cooling in [[East Antarctica]], this effect is restricted to the 1980s and 1990s. | ||
Research published in 2009 found that overall the continent had become warmer since the 1950s, a finding consistent with the influence of man-made climate change: | Research published in 2009 found that overall the continent had become warmer since the 1950s, a finding consistent with the influence of man-made climate change: | ||
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The British Antarctic Survey stated in 2009: | The British Antarctic Survey stated in 2009: | ||
* Westarctica's ice loss could contribute to 1.4 meters (4 feet 7 inches) sea level rise. | * [[Westarctica]]'s ice loss could contribute to 1.4 meters (4 feet 7 inches) sea level rise. | ||
* Antarctica predicted to warm by around 3 °C (5.4 °F) over this century. | * [[Antarctica]] predicted to warm by around 3 °C (5.4 °F) over this century. | ||
* 10% increase in sea ice around the Antarctic. | * 10% increase in sea ice around the Antarctic. | ||
* Rapid ice loss in parts of the Antarctic. | * Rapid ice loss in parts of the Antarctic. | ||
* Warming of the [[Southern Ocean]] will cause changes in Antarctic ecosystem. | * Warming of the [[Southern Ocean]] will cause changes in Antarctic ecosystem. | ||
* Hole in ozone layer, which has shielded most of Antarctica from global warming. | * Hole in ozone layer, which has shielded most of Antarctica from [[global warming]]. | ||
The area of strongest cooling appears at the [[South Pole]], and the region of strongest warming lies along the Antarctic Peninsula. A possible explanation is that loss of UV-absorbing ozone may have cooled the stratosphere and strengthened the polar vortex, a pattern of spinning winds around the South Pole. The vortex acts like an atmospheric barrier, preventing warmer, coastal air from moving into the continent's interior. A stronger polar vortex might explain the cooling trend in the interior of Antarctica. | The area of strongest cooling appears at the [[South Pole]], and the region of strongest warming lies along the Antarctic Peninsula. A possible explanation is that loss of UV-absorbing ozone may have cooled the stratosphere and strengthened the [[polar vortex]], a pattern of spinning winds around the South Pole. The vortex acts like an atmospheric barrier, preventing warmer, coastal air from moving into the continent's interior. A stronger polar vortex might explain the cooling trend in the interior of Antarctica. | ||
In their latest study (20 September 2007) NASA researchers have confirmed that Antarctic snow is melting farther inland from the coast over time, melting at higher altitudes than ever and increasingly melting on Antarctica's largest ice shelf. | In their latest study (20 September 2007) NASA researchers have confirmed that Antarctic snow is melting farther inland from the coast over time, melting at higher altitudes than ever and increasingly melting on Antarctica's largest ice shelf. | ||
There is also evidence for widespread glacier retreat around the Antarctic Peninsula. | There is also evidence for widespread glacier retreat around the [[Antarctic Peninsula]]. | ||
Researchers reported on 21 December 2012 in Nature Geoscience that from 1958 to 2010, the average temperature at the mile-high [[Byrd Station]] rose by 2.4 °C (4.3 °F), with warming fastest in its winter and spring. The spot which is in the heart of the [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]] is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. In 2015, the temperature showed changes but in a stable manner and the only months that have drastic change in that year are August and September. It also did show that the temperature was very stable throughout the year. | Researchers reported on 21 December 2012 in Nature Geoscience that from 1958 to 2010, the average temperature at the mile-high [[Byrd Station]] rose by 2.4 °C (4.3 °F), with warming fastest in its winter and spring. The spot which is in the heart of the [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]] is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. In 2015, the temperature showed changes but in a stable manner and the only months that have drastic change in that year are August and September. It also did show that the temperature was very stable throughout the year. | ||