Antarctic Cold Spells Shattered Records in July-August, 2023

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A peer reviewed paper published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences indicated extremely cold temperatures were observed across most of Antarctica in July and August 2023, adversely impacting aircraft operations into McMurdo Station and Phoenix Airfield.

With temperatures below −50 °C, safe flight operation was not possible because of the risk of failing hydraulics and fuel turning to gel onboard the aircraft. Examination of composite geopotential height anomalies during each of four cold phases suggests various factors leading to cold temperatures, including both southerly flows from the continent and calm atmospheric conditions.

Thirteen weather stations recorded record low temperatures. The Margaret station recorded -66.4 °C on August 21, 2023, 1.7 °C colder than the previous record set in July 18, 2017.

The highest point, Kunlun Station, recorded its lowest temperature ever observed at -79.4°C, which was about 5°C lower than the monthly average,” added Prof. Minghu Ding from State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences.

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