A rare atmospheric phenomena has caused the air above Antarctica to get far warmer than usual, with scientists recording record-breaking temperatures in the stratosphere. Eun-Pa Lim, from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, and colleagues noticed the air above Antarctica was getting warmer at the end of August. In the weeks that followed, this warming intensified, eventually seeing temperatures reach up to 35 degrees Kelvin above normal. The warming was the result of sudden stratospheric warming—a phenomenon that takes place in the Northern Hemisphere regularly, about once every one to two years, Lim told Newsweek. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, it is far rarer, having only been observed once before, in 2002. “Back in late August to early September, it was about 30 to 35 degree Kelvin warmer than normal in the upper to mid stratosphere over the Antarctic polar cap region, which was a record-breaking warming for that time of year,” Lim said. “Since then, the magnitude of the anomalous warming has reduced by about 15 degree Kelvin in the mid to lower stratosphere.” To view the full article visit Newsweek.
