Extreme Warming Event at the North Pole

In early February, the North Pole experienced an extreme increase in temperatures, exceeding 20 degrees Celsius above average, marking a significant anomaly in the region's climate patterns.

Temperature Anomalies

• Temperatures in Svalbard, Norway, were 18 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average.
• Moreover, North Pole's temperatures rose more than 20 degrees Celsius above average.

Rapid Arctic Warming

• Since 1979, the Arctic has warmed four times faster than the global average, posing significant environmental challenges.
• This rapid warming threatens global weather patterns and can contribute to rising sea levels.

Causes of Temperature Increase

• A deep low-pressure system over Iceland facilitated the inflow of warmer air from lower latitudes, raising temperatures.
• Elevated sea surface temperatures in the north-east Atlantic intensified wind-driven warming.

Factors Contributing to Arctic Warming

• Albedo Effect: The diminishing sea ice reflects less sunlight, causing more heat absorption by land and water.
• Lack of Convection: Weaker convection in the Arctic leads to heat being trapped near the surface, unlike the tropics where vertical mixing occurs.

Global Temperature Context

• Global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius since the 1850-1900 baseline.
• The Arctic has warmed 3.8 times faster than the global average since the late 1970s.