Antarctica, renowned for its vast ice sheets and frigid temperatures, recently experienced a rare weather phenomenon: rainfall. In January, the continent saw rain for less than two hours, marking only the eighth such event recorded at Zhongshan Station since its establishment in 1989.
Zhu Dingzhen, a member of the Cast Expert Team For Science Communication, attributes this unusual rainfall to the rapid warming of the Antarctic region. \"The Antarctic rainfall event is related to the warming of the Antarctic,\" Zhu explains. He notes that temperatures at the poles are rising faster than the global average, leading to the formation of updrafts that can melt ice and snow, generate water vapor, and eventually result in rainfall under specific conditions.
Looking ahead, Zhu warns that climate change could make such rainfall events more frequent at the edges of the Antarctic ice sheet. \"Affected by global warming, it is very likely that following this trend, rainfall events at the edge of the Antarctic ice sheet will increase in the future,\" he states.
Additionally, changes in sea ice play a critical role in Antarctic rainfall patterns. Since 2023, sea ice levels have remained low, allowing warm and moist air from the Indian Ocean to infiltrate the region. This warm air cannot be sufficiently cooled in areas with reduced sea ice, leading to rainfall on the Antarctic edge.
The implications of this rainfall are significant for the delicate Antarctic ecosystem. Freezing rain was also observed at Australia's Davis research station. In Antarctica's cold environment, rain quickly turns to ice upon contact with the ground. This poses a threat to baby penguins, whose feathers are not waterproof, increasing the risk of frostbite and affecting their survival.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
