The world’s coldest continent Antarctica has recorded the hottest temperature ever last year. Which has raised alarm bells for the world.
The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (UN WMO) on Thursday confirmed the new temperature record in the Antarctica. The United Nations has confirmed a temperature of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in the Antarctic last year.
With this, Antarctica has now become one of the fastest-warming regions in the world — registering a rise of almost three degrees Celsius in the last 50 years, WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said on Thursday.
The reading was taken on February 6, 2020 at Argentina’s Esperanza station on the Antarctic Peninsula.
The previous record, of 17.5C, was recorded in the same spot on on 24 March 2015.
Petteri Taalas, the Secretary-General of the WMO, said it was necessary to confirm the record high temperature for the Antarctic Peninsula, which is one of the world’s fastest-warming places, having warmed by about 3 degrees Celsius in the last 50 years.
“The Antarctic Peninsula is among the fastest-warming regions of the planet, almost 3°C over the last 50 years. This new temperature record is therefore consistent with the climate change we are observing. WMO is working in partnership with the Antarctic Treaty System to help conserve this pristine continent,” said Prof. Taalas.
The previous record for the Antarctic continent, according to the WMO was 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.5 degrees Fahrenheit) set on March 24, 2015 at Esperanza Research Station.
WMO concurrently rejected the previous record of 20.7 degrees Celsius (69.3 degrees Fahrenheit) set on Seymour Island on February 9, 2020.
The WMO spokeswoman, Clare Nullis, said that melting from these glaciers will increase the sea level.
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