A 2023 study highlighted unexpected extreme cold events in Antarctica during a year of global heat records, emphasizing the need to understand such atmospheric anomalies for improved operational safety in the region. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
In a detailed examination of the late winter months of 2023, researchers observed extreme cold temperatures across a broad region of Antarctica. “The highest point, Kunlun Station, recorded its lowest temperature ever observed at -79.4°C, which was about 5°C lower than the monthly average,” added Prof. Minghu Ding from State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences. “Interestingly, at the same time, record-breaking high temperatures were occurring in South America, which is relatively close to Antarctica.