Cooling on Antarctica

© 2002 Eugene S. Takle

Global temperature measurements indicate that the mean global surface temperature has increased by 0.06ºC per decade in the 20th Century and by 0.19ºC per decade between 1978 and 1998. Global climate models generally attribute warming of such magnitudes to increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases. The models further suggest that warming should be enhanced in polar regions. Doran et al (2002) however, find that measurements averaged over the continent for a recent 35-year period and in specific valley for the period 1986-2000 revealed cooling by as much as 0.7ºC, with largest cooling being in summer and autumn. This has significant impact on local ecosystems that are highly sensitive to even small changes in climate.

Reference

Doran, P. T., J. C. Priscu, W. B. Lyons, J. E. Walsh, A. G. Fountain, D. M. McKnight, D. L. Moorhead, R. A. Virginia, D. H. Wall, G. D. Clow, C. H. Fritsen, C. P. McKay, and A. N. Parsons, 2002: Antarctic climate cooling and terrestrial ecosystem response. Nature, 15, 517-520.