A Very Warm Time in Antarctica
Introduction
In winter 2024, East Antarctica was very warm. The temperature was 28°C higher than normal for more than two weeks. This happened in the dark winter when it is usually -30°C. Scientists studied this event. They wanted to know why it happened and if people caused it. A similar warm event happened in March 2022. These events show that very warm weather can happen in cold places.
Main Body
The warm weather started when the winds high in the sky became weak. These winds usually keep cold air over Antarctica. In July 2024, the winds changed. This made the air high up get warmer. Then a big area of high pressure formed over East Antarctica. This brought warm, wet air from far away. This is called an atmospheric river. It is rare in winter. The clouds trapped heat near the ground. The warm weather lasted a long time. Also, the sea ice was very low. The ocean was warm too. Scientists used computers to compare the real event with a world without people's influence. They found that climate change made the warm event stronger and more likely. Natural changes started it, but the world is now warmer because of greenhouse gases. If we keep polluting, these warm events could happen 20 times more often by 2100. This is a prediction from models, not a fact. The 2022 warm event was also very big. Both events show that old weather patterns can now cause bigger problems. Even short warm times in Antarctica can change snow and ice. They can make ice shelves weaker. Ice shelves hold back glaciers. If they break, glaciers move into the ocean. This makes sea levels rise.
Conclusion
The 2024 warm event in Antarctica shows that climate change is making extreme weather more common, even in the coldest places. This affects everyone because sea levels rise and weather patterns change. Scientists say we need to watch Antarctica and reduce pollution to stop more extreme events.