Scientists record first reported heatwave at Antarctica's Casey research station
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Scientists record first reported heatwave at
Antarctica's Casey research station
31 March 2020, by Ben Long
UOW climate change biologist Senior Professor
Sharon Robinson, the paper's lead author, said
between 23 and 26 January this year, Casey
recorded its highest ever minimum and maximum
temperatures.
"Heatwaves are classified as three consecutive
days with both extreme maximum and minimum
temperatures," Professor Robinson said.
"In those three days in January, Casey experienced
minimum temperatures above zero and maximum
temperatures above 7.5°C, with its highest
maximum temperature ever, 9.2°C on 24 January,
University of Wollongong climate change biologist Senior followed by its highest minimum of 2.5°C the
Professor Sharon Robinson in the lab. Credit: Paul following morning."
Jones, UOW
"In the 31 year record for Casey, this maximum is
6.9°C higher than the mean maximum temperature
for the station, while the minimum is 0.2°C higher."
This summer, while drought, heatwaves and
bushfires ravaged Australia, Antarctica was also Elsewhere in Antarctica record temperatures were
experiencing a summer of extreme weather. also reported in February.
In East Antarctica, scientists recorded the first On 6 February, the Argentine research base
reported heatwave event at Casey research station Esperanza on the northern tip of the Antarctic
in the Australian Antarctic Territory, with extreme Peninsula recorded a maximum temperature of
maximum and minimum temperatures recorded 18.4°C. At the time it was the highest temperature
over three consecutive days in January. Record recorded anywhere in Antarctica, almost 1°C hotter
high temperatures were also reported at bases on than the previous record of 17.5°C.
the Antarctic Peninsula.
Three days later the new record was broken when
In a research paper published today in Global Brazilian scientists reported a maximum
Change Biology, scientists from the University of temperature of 20.75°C at Marambio Base, also on
Wollongong (UOW), Australian Antarctic Division the Antarctic Peninsula.
(AAD), University of Tasmania and University of
Santiago, Chile, report on the heatwave and its The February average daily temperature exceeded
impact on Antarctica's plants, animals and the long-term means by 2°C for Esperanza, and
ecosystems. 2.4°C for Marambio.
While the Antarctic Peninsula has experienced
rapid warming over the past decades, until now
East Antarctica has been mostly spared from
warming associated with global climate change.
1/3
the event. Long-term study of areas affected by the
heatwave will allow us to track this impact," she
said.
AAD atmospheric scientist Dr. Andrew Klekociuk
said the warmer temperatures were linked to above
average temperatures across parts of Antarctica,
and other meteorological patterns in the Southern
Hemisphere that occurred during the spring and
summer of 2019.
These patterns were influenced in part by the early
breakup of the ozone hole in late 2019, due to rapid
Antarctic ecologist Dr Dana Bergstrom, Principle
warming in the stratosphere—the atmospheric
Research Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division.
Credit: Patti Virtue
region above 12 km altitude.
"The upper levels of the atmosphere at the edge of
Antarctica were strongly disturbed in the spring of
Antarctic ecologist Dr. Dana Bergstrom, Principle 2019, and effects of this likely further influenced the
Research Scientist at the AAD and Visiting Scholar lower atmosphere over Antarctica during the
at UOW, said the hot summer would most likely summer," Dr. Klekociuk said.
lead to long-term disruption to local populations,
communities, and the broader ecosystem. This Professor Robinson said extreme events
disruption could be both positive and negative. associated with global climate change are predicted
to increase in frequency and impact, and Antarctica
"Most life exists in small ice-free oases in was not immune to them.
Antarctica, and largely depends on melting snow
and ice for their water supply," Dr. Bergstrom said. "The extreme weather experienced in Antarctica
over its summer months illustrates how changing
"Melt water flooding can provide additional water to extremes are impacting even the most remote
these desert ecosystems, leading to increased areas of the planet," she said.
growth and reproduction of mosses, lichens,
microbes and invertebrates. More information: Sharon A. Robinson et al. The
2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves, Global
"However excessive flooding can dislodge plants Change Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1111/GCB.15083
and alter the composition of communities of
invertebrates and microbial mats.
"If the ice melts completely, early in the season, Provided by University of Wollongong
then ecosystems will suffer drought for the rest of
the season."
Higher temperatures can also cause heat stress in
plants and animals adapted to cold Antarctic
conditions.
Dr. Bergstrom said further studies were needed to
understand the full impact of the heatwave.
"Extreme events often have impacts for years after
2/3
APA citation: Scientists record first reported heatwave at Antarctica's Casey research station (2020,
March 31) retrieved 11 May 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2020-03-scientists-heatwave-antarctica-
casey-station.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
3/3
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)You can also read
