Similar temperatures were never registered before in Antarctica. In the past few weeks, unprecedented records have been reached.
Particularly, on Friday, 18th March, the numbers in various weather stations soared. In eastern Antarctica, temperatures of 40ºC above average were reached, and the Concordia meteorological station (at 3.234 meters above sea level) recorded its highest temperature ever of 11,5ºC.
A so-called "atmospheric river" directed a mass of warm, humid air toward the South Pole, which led to rains on the Antarctic coast.
Although caused by different meteorological patterns, certain parts of the Arctic – at the other end of the planet – have reached unprecedented levels, with temperatures of 30ºC above monthly average and extreme heat records in Norway and Greenland.
The causes are unclear yet, and numerous studies will need to be completed to compare the different scenarios.
However, scientists are certain of the exceptional nature of these occurrences. And what is most frightening are the predictions of an increase in the intensity and frequency of such extreme events, a manifestation of a general trend of profound mutation of the Earth's climate.
