A record-breaking heat wave unfolding at what should be the coldest time in Earth’s coldest place has scientists concerned about what it could mean for the future health of the Antarctic continent, and the consequences it could inflict for millions of people across the globe.
Temperatures since mid-July have climbed up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal over parts of Antarctica and unseasonable warmth could continue through the first half of August.
The latest data shows high temperatures in portions of East Antarctica – where the most abnormal conditions are ongoing – that are typically between minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit are now closer to minus 13 to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s cold, but Bismarck, North Dakota, has reached minus 20 degrees at least once a year in almost every year since 1875. Antarctica’s typical winter cold should be operating at a level unfathomable to most people in the US.
Summerlike heat in the dead of winter – even if much of the continent is still below freezing – is an alarming development for a place more capable than any other of generating catastrophic sea level rise as fossil fuel pollution continues to drive global temperatures upward.
In other news - actual energy policy from the GOP platform:
“We will DRILL, BABY, DRILL and we will become Energy Independent, and even Dominant again. The United States has more liquid gold under our feet than any other Nation, and it’s not even close. The Republican Party will harness that potential to power our future.”
Meanwhile, the latest Climate Insight Survey shows:
A Pew survey that was much larger and more recent showed:
That drop is fueled entirely by the GOP which saw support for solar drop by 20 percent and wind by 19 percent since Biden took office.
“It’s a new level of polarization on energy issues that we had not previously seen," said Pew associate research director, Alec Tyson
We're phucked.
Temperatures since mid-July have climbed up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal over parts of Antarctica and unseasonable warmth could continue through the first half of August.
The latest data shows high temperatures in portions of East Antarctica – where the most abnormal conditions are ongoing – that are typically between minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit are now closer to minus 13 to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s cold, but Bismarck, North Dakota, has reached minus 20 degrees at least once a year in almost every year since 1875. Antarctica’s typical winter cold should be operating at a level unfathomable to most people in the US.
Summerlike heat in the dead of winter – even if much of the continent is still below freezing – is an alarming development for a place more capable than any other of generating catastrophic sea level rise as fossil fuel pollution continues to drive global temperatures upward.
In other news - actual energy policy from the GOP platform:
“We will DRILL, BABY, DRILL and we will become Energy Independent, and even Dominant again. The United States has more liquid gold under our feet than any other Nation, and it’s not even close. The Republican Party will harness that potential to power our future.”
Meanwhile, the latest Climate Insight Survey shows:
- Seventy-five percent of Americans believe the World’s temperature has increased over the past 100 years. A decrease of eight percent since 2020.
- Twenty-one percent of Americans consider climate change to be extremely important to them. This group comprises those who vote the issue—no significant change since 2020.
- Support for solar power fell by eight percent over the past ten years.
- Support for wind-powered electricity has dropped by 14 percent over the past decade.
- Sixty-seven percent of Americans trust climate scientists, which is a decrease of eight percent since 2020.
A Pew survey that was much larger and more recent showed:
That drop is fueled entirely by the GOP which saw support for solar drop by 20 percent and wind by 19 percent since Biden took office.
“It’s a new level of polarization on energy issues that we had not previously seen," said Pew associate research director, Alec Tyson
We're phucked.
