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Antarctic climate extremes: Why is it the coldest place on Earth?
As the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica has an extreme and unique climate. The continent is almost completely covered by ice, with an average annual precipitation of only 166 mm, mainly in the form of snow. Here we will explore Antarctic weather conditions, ice, temperature changes and their impact on the global climate.
Antarctica's weather is highly variable and can experience dramatic climate changes in a short period of time. This forces climate scientists studying Antarctica to adapt to a variety of extreme conditions.
Extreme Temperatures
The temperatures in Antarctica can be extreme: in 1982, the highest temperature recorded at the weather station on the Antarctic island of Senegal was 19.8°C, while the lowest temperature recorded at the Vostok station in 1983 was −89.2 °C. This means that the lowest temperatures in Antarctica are lower than the sublimation temperature of dry ice.
According to satellite data, the lowest ground temperature observed on the Antarctic Plateau on a certain day in August 2010 was -93.2°C, which is one of the lowest temperatures recorded on Earth. This data shows that the internal climate of Antarctica cannot be compared with the global average temperature. In some seasons, the average temperature in the interior of the Antarctic continent can even be as low as −43.5°C.
In fact, the Antarctic climate rarely sees snow melt, as the average thickness of the ice layer in various locations is over 1,500 meters, which means that Antarctica is a unique "ice continent" on Earth.
Shocking figures of precipitation
The average annual precipitation in Antarctica is 166 mm, almost all of which appears in the form of snow. This causes the interior of Antarctica to be considered a desert, as annual precipitation is less than 250 mm. Despite this, some areas of the Antarctic Peninsula can receive up to 640 mm of precipitation per year.
In Antarctica, dry air and extreme low temperatures result in low absolute humidity, so scientists and explorers living here often face the troubles of dry skin and cracked lips.
The dry environment and cold climate of Antarctica's interior are one of the reasons why this land is sparsely populated, and it is difficult to attract people's attention even in the slightly warmer summer.
The role of ice sheets and ice shelves
The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest freshwater reserve on Earth, containing 90% of the world's ice and 70% of its fresh water. If these ice sheets melt completely, global sea levels will rise by more than 60 meters, which will bring crises to countries around the world.
Ice shelves, which cover 75% of the Antarctic coastal area, are made up of floating ice. These ice shelves are facing the dilemma of melting and disintegration under the influence of global warming. Once the ice shelves disintegrate, the movement of the ice flow behind them will be accelerated, further affecting the rise of global sea levels.
Recent observations show that the area of Antarctica's ice shelves is decreasing rapidly, especially in the Antarctic Peninsula, where ice shelves have been collapsing one after another. This is a direct result of the impact of global warming.
Impacts of climate change
Global climate change is complicating the situation in Antarctica, with a warming climate causing more precipitation, but still mostly in the form of snow. While small increases in temperature will not lead to widespread melting, these changes will have long-term effects on sea level rise.
Antarctic ice flow is extremely slow, which means that even in extreme climate conditions the ice sheet is slow to respond, but current trends over time are becoming impossible to ignore. Past data clearly indicate that the ice sheet in East Antarctica is thickening, while that in West Antarctica is generally thinning, and this change will drive the trend of sea level rise in the coming decades.
Studying Antarctic climate issues is crucial to future ecological protection and human survival. How should we respond to these extreme environmental changes to reduce the impact and challenges on the entire world?
