The record temperatures were caused by an atmospheric river trapping heat over the continent: Climate expert Oliver Zents spoke to us about the reasons behind the phenomenon.
“Very warm air over Antarctica came from Australia in the middle of March and stopped there for several days. There has never been such a case: Antarctica is autumn at this time, the temperature drops very dramatically, the average is about sixty degrees Below zero in April, “In March, the temperature was less than ten degrees below zero,” the expert said.
Such an anomaly alone does not yet lead to far-reaching conclusions, but this spike is certainly intriguing, according to Oliver Szentes.
Antarctica is a closed climate system, since it is surrounded by an ocean, changes there are unlikely to affect other parts of the planet.
Olivér Szentes also spoke about lower rainfall this year in Hungary: It was just a dry start to 1949, so what we’ve seen so far this year is certainly unusual. April was also dry that year.
“The rain is coming now, despite the start of the driest year this year,” said the climate expert.
Opening image: Ray Hems / Getty Images
