Ukrainian polar explorers recorded abnormal weather conditions in the Antarctic

Scientists from the Akademik Vernadsky station recorded the coldest winter in the last six years in the West Antarctic — the temperature dropped to -14,7°C.

This year's winter in the Antarctic has become the coldest in the last six years. This was reported by the National Antarctic Science Center (NASC).

Ukrainian polar explorers from the Akademik Vernadskyi station recorded long periods of cooling, although the minimum temperature dropped to only -14,7°C.

Experts explain the anomaly as the influence of a cold water mass that settled in May west of the Antarctic Peninsula and later spread to the entire West Antarctic. This broke the previous warming trend and positive temperature anomalies observed in 2022 and 2023.

Snow fell relatively little this winter — 180 cm compared to 300 cm in 2022 — as dry air masses from the continent prevailed. Instead, a lot of sea ice formed, which became an important factor in maintaining climatic stability:

"A lot of sea ice has formed around Vernadsky, which is very important. Such ice does not allow the ocean to give off heat to the air and at the same time to be heated by the sun's rays. In addition, it is actively used by Antarctic animals," - noted in the NASC.

The polar explorers also set an absolute wind speed record for the entire time of observation — 42,5 m/s in September.

facebook.com/AntarcticCenter