Antarctic Air is Warming Faster Than Rest of World






by Mark Henderson, Times/UK, Posted on Commondreams.org


AIR temperatures above the entire frozen continent of Antarctica have risen three times faster than the rest of the world during the past 30 years.


While it is well established that temperatures are increasing rapidly in the Antarctic Peninsula, the land tongue that protrudes towards South America, the trend has been harder to confirm over the continent as a whole.

Now analysis of weather balloon data by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has shown that not only are the lower reaches of the Antarctic atmosphere warming, but that they are doing so at the fastest rate observed anywhere on Earth.

Temperatures in the troposphere — the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the atmosphere — have increased by between 0.5C and 0.7 C (0.9F and 1.3F) per decade over the past 30 years.

This signature of climate change is three times stronger than the average observed around the world, suggesting that global warming is having an uneven impact and that it could be greater for Antarctica.



Click to Read

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Choices For Sustainable Living

The Vermont Earth Institute is sponsoring a discussion group entitled " Choices For Sustainable Living" at the Education and Wellness Center at 78 South Main Street, Rutland, Vermont beginning at 7:00 P.M.on Tuesday evening September 28th. This discussion group is Free and open to everyone and will meet for 9 weeks from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Tuesday evenings. For more information contact Mike O'Brien at 775-4340, 104. For discussion group readings go to the Vermont Earth Institute
Read more

Why the era of cheap food is over

Image
Christian Science Monitor Food prices worldwide hit record highs in 2006, and all the signs are that they will go on rising this year, and for the foreseeable future. The era of cheap food, the experts say, is over and we are going to have to get used to it. This is easier said than done for millions around the world, as evidenced by protests in Mexico over the cost of corn tortillas, and in Italy last September about the price of (wheat) pasta. Staff writer Peter Ford looks at why. Read more....
Read more

Climate Confusion: Who Wins?

Image
by Michael O'Brien Climate change is the biggest challenge we face as a humans. Any serious student who analyses the information recognizes that the overwhelming consensus from scientists is that we have a very small period of time in which our efforts will have a positive impact for our planet and our children's future. For the past 10 years or so, there has been rigorous debate both by the scientific community and in the press about climate change. The debate is over, the issues have been discussed and now is the time for us to take responsibility for our future. It is fascinating to watch the media feel the need to present the “other side” of this issue when there is discourse about climate change. My guess is that they feel vulnerable from the vocal skeptics or right wing talk show hosts so they include a dwindling number of scientists or spokespeople who argue against human causation. It seems there is an inordinate amount of air time devoted to this topic in proportion
Read more