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As the heat wave tightens its grip on the northern hemisphere, Antarctica broke a different kind of climate record.
Antarctic sea ice has shown variability for decades, fluctuating between historical highs and lows.
In a normal situation, the ice reaches its lowest point in late February and then recovers during the winter. Since 2016, scientists have witnessed a drastic downward trend that defies all expectations.
This year, it is at its lowest level since records began 45 years ago. A disturbing sign that something has changed on our planet.
Antarctica is warming faster than many other regions, a phenomenon known as “Polar Amplification.”
The temperature increase at high latitudes outpaces the global average, setting off a cascade of consequences.
One critical factor is the ice-albedo feedback. The increase in temperature near the surface contributes to ice melting, which contributes to a rise in temperature. Why? Because the albedo — that is, the fraction of solar energy reflected by a surface — of the ocean and the underlying ground is lower than that of ice.
The South Pole warmed ‘three times faster’ than the global average over the past 30 years, making it one of the fastest-warming regions on the planet.
And as you may imagine, Antarctica’s sea ice is not just a local phenomenon — it plays a significant role in regulating the Earth’s temperature.
The reflective properties of sea ice bounce solar energy back into space, helping to cool the planet. As sea ice disappears, darker ocean waters take its place, absorbing more heat and further accelerating global warming. This feedback loop could have far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond Antarctica’s borders.
This vicious cycle accelerates the pace of global warming.
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There's much more in the article, and I hope you will read the whole thing.
FULL ARTICLE -- https://archive.ph/NL7cn#selection-1845.0-1849.108
#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency
