Researchers working in Antarctica have reported an unusual and intense heat wave, warning that glaciers in the region are beginning to melt rapidly.
Antarctica, the world’s fifth-largest continent at the South Pole, is almost entirely covered in ice. Reports note that around 70% of the planet’s fresh water is stored there in frozen form.
Scientists from multiple countries conducting field studies, including on the Trinity Peninsula, said temperatures are currently as much as 20°C higher than typical levels. They cited a reading of 15.4°C recorded on June 6, calling the conditions a worrying sign of a larger and dangerous climate shift.
The team also said they were shocked to see surface ice melting when they reached the top of the Collins Glacier. Researchers cautioned that global warming and weather phenomena such as El Niño could further raise temperatures and severely affect key glaciers, including the Thwaites Glacier.
