Antarctic temperature records to put climate change in context: scientists

An international team of experts has set a benchmark for global climate change by verifying the most extreme temperatures observed in Antarctica, says a New Zealand scientist who took part in the study.

The World Meteorological Organisation Commission for Climatology (CCl) expert committee, which monitors weather and climate extremes around the globe, on Thursday published new records for the highest temperatures recorded in the Antarctic region.

The highest temperature for the Antarctica region -- all the land and ice south of 60 degrees south -- of 19.8 degrees centigrade was observed on Jan. 30, 1982, on Signy Island.

The highest temperature for the Antarctic continent -- the main continental landmass and adjoining islands -- was 17.5 degrees, recorded on March 24, 2015, near the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The highest temperature for the Antarctic Plateau -- at or above 2,500 meters -- was minus 7 degrees recorded on Dec. 28, 1980, at an automatic weather station site inland of the Adelie Coast.

The lowest temperature recorded by ground measurements for the Antarctic region, and for the whole world, was minus 89.2 degrees at Vostok station on July 21, 1983.

The verification of the Antarctic extremes helps increase understanding about the Antarctic's climate, Victoria University Professor James Renwick said in a statement.

"Knowledge and verification of such extremes is important in the study of weather patterns, naturally occurring climate variability and human-induced climate change at global and regional scales," said Renwick.

"These newly defined records give the international community a benchmark for comparison with future observations in a changing climate."

The CCl committee consisted of polar science and climate experts from Argentina, Spain, Morocco, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Endit