The Polar Climate Change Report 2023, an annual assessment tracking climate impacts in the polar regions, has unveiled alarming trends and extreme events in its latest release.
Released Thursday in Beijing, the report highlights significant anomalies in both Antarctica and the Arctic. In the Antarctic region, average temperatures rose slightly to minus 31.86 degrees Celsius, which is 0.05 degrees Celsius above the norm. Notably, the continent experienced a rare 40-degree Celsius temperature spike at the South Pole during polar night, with temperatures fluctuating from minus 74 to minus 34 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the Arctic reported its warmest summer since 1979. The region's annual average temperature reached minus 9.19 degrees Celsius, marking an increase of 0.97 degrees Celsius. Certain areas saw temperature rises exceeding 2.0 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, Antarctic sea ice hit a record low of 1.788 million square kilometers in February 2023. Wang Jinxing, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, stated during a press briefing, \"Antarctic sea ice has consistently remained at low levels over the past year, with the annual cumulative sea ice extent far below historical records.\" He emphasized, \"This is one of the most extreme global climate events in recent years.\"
The report also noted that the Antarctic ozone hole formed earlier and persisted longer in 2023, while Arctic ozone levels were above average. Greenhouse gas concentrations continued to rise steadily in both polar regions, reflecting global trends.
Wang further elaborated, \"In 2023, the Arctic and Antarctic regions exhibited a persistent amplifying effect on climate change with significant impacts on local ecosystems and global weather patterns.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
