arctic circle temperature

amount of exposure to the sun year-round, it tends to be hot regardless of what This report also states that "most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely [greater than 90% chance] due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations." where the sun rises briefly or not at all. [17] Geologists were able to track the summer Arctic temperatures as far back as the time of the Romans by studying natural signals in the landscape. The southern third of Greenland protrudes into the North-Atlantic storm track, a region frequently influenced by cyclones. Furthermore, most of the small amount of solar radiation that reaches the surface is reflected away by the bright snow cover. In 1958 an American nuclear submarine, the Nautilus was the first ship to reach the North Pole. Smaller regions of the Arctic Basin just north of Svalbard and the Taymyr Peninsula receive up to about 400 mm (16 in) per year.[5]. This area can be warmer than many travelers would imagine. The 7 day weather forecast summary for Cruise Arctic Circle: The forecast for Cruise Arctic Circle in the coming week is predicting the average daytime maximum temperature will be around -8°C, with a high for the week of 2°C expected on the evening of Sunday 18th. Because the equator gets roughly the same the equator, the center of the Earth. Woodrow Wilson, president 100 years ago when the first 100F measured temperature above the Arctic Circle happened. The record still needs to be verified, but it appears to have been 18C higher than the average maximum daily temperature in June. Inside the Arctic Circle, the new high of 38C temperature, if accurate, is the highest temperature every recorded inside the Arctic Circle, meteorologists say. Eleven nations provided support to establish twelve observing stations around the Arctic. northern portion of Scandinavia and the northwestern portion of Russia. The Arctic Basin is typically covered by sea ice year round, which strongly influences its summer temperatures. The Soviet Union was also interested in the Arctic and established a significant presence there by continuing the North-Pole drifting stations. potentially opening up the Arctic to resource exploitation and trans-polar travel The Soviet navy also operated in the Arctic, including a sailing of the nuclear-powered ice breaker Arktika to the North Pole in 1977, the first time a surface ship reached the pole. Routine satellite observations of the Arctic began in the early 1970s, expanding and improving ever since. The end of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a dramatic decrease in regular observations from the Arctic. Unusual clear periods can lead to increased sea-ice melt or higher temperatures (NSIDC). [15], Climate models predict that the temperature increase in the Arctic over the next century will continue to be about twice the global average temperature increase. In the more recent past, the planet has experienced a series of ice ages and interglacial periods over about the last 2 million years, with the last ice age reaching its maximum extent about 18,000 years ago and ending by about 10,000 years ago. These maps were made with data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, which incorporates available data into a computer model to create a consistent global data set. Latitude is the most important factor determining the yearly average amount of solar radiation reaching the top of the atmosphere; the incident solar radiation decreases smoothly from the Equator to the poles. It’s true that much of the Arctic is cold, but there are locations that buck this trend, such as northern Scandinavia. Due to the Arctic’s frigidity, wildlife in the region have In fact, the + 38.6°C reading was just one of many highs that made June 2020 in Siberia five degrees warmer than any June from 1981 to 2010. Here is a guide to the weather and climate of the Arctic Circle so you Seasonal effects are more pronounced the further one is from In the case of the Texas cold snap, the phenomenon began in the first week of January, when air in the stratosphere above the Arctic warmed suddenly. that the Arctic is an extremely cold place, you might be surprised at the This tilt is responsible for creating the seasons, as the portion of the Earth that is tilted towards the Sun experiences summer and the part that is tilted away experiences winter. There is a large amount of variability in climate across the Arctic, but all regions experience extremes of solar radiation in both summer and winter. In the summer, when the snow melts, Inuit live in tent-like huts made out of animal skins stretched over a frame. The interior of the central and northern Greenland Ice Sheet is the driest part of the Arctic. weather. National and commercial expeditions continued to expand the detail on maps of the Arctic through the eighteenth century, but largely neglected other scientific observations. A result of these observations is a thorough record of sea-ice extent in the Arctic since 1979; the decreasing extent seen in this record (NASA, NSIDC), and its possible link to anthropogenic global warming, has helped increase interest in the Arctic in recent years. If verified, the temperature recorded there on June 20 could mark the hottest temperature ever registered north of the Arctic Circle. Arctic Circle: worrying ‘highest-ever’ recorded temperatures Temperatures in the Arctic Circle are likely to have hit an all-time record on Saturday, reaching a scorching 38C (100F) in Verkhoyansk, a Siberian town. In May, Khatanga, Russia - situated in the Arctic Circle at 72 degrees north - set a new May temperature record when it reached 25.4C. Over Baffin Island and the smaller islands around it, annual totals increase from just over 200 mm (7.9 in) in the north to about 500 mm (20 in) in the south, where cyclones from the North Atlantic are more frequent.[5]. Arctic days lengthen rapidly in March and April, and the sun rises higher in the sky, both bringing more solar radiation to the Arctic than in winter. The most widely used definition, the area north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not set on the June Solstice, is used in astronomical and some geographical contexts. As the snow disappears on land, the underlying surfaces absorb even more energy, and begin to warm rapidly. The models, though imperfect, often provide valuable insight into climate-related questions that cannot be tested in the real world. In winter, this relatively warm water, even though covered by the polar ice pack, keeps the North Pole from being the coldest place in the Northern Hemisphere, and it is also part of the reason that Antarctica is so much colder than the Arctic. Temperatures in the Arctic Circle hit an alarming 30C today, a full eight degrees warmer than it was in Ibiza. Second, because colder air holds less water vapour than warmer air, in the Arctic, a greater fraction of any increase in radiation absorbed by the surface goes directly into warming the atmosphere, whereas in the tropics, a greater fraction goes into evaporation. By the end of the 21st century, the annual average temperature in the Arctic is predicted to increase by 2.8 to 7.8 °C (5.0 to 14.0 °F), with more warming in winter (4.3 to 11.4 °C (7.7 to 20.5 °F)) than in summer. The cold sea current from Siberia influences the east coast of Spitsbergen and the resulting lower temperatures. On June 20, a remote Siberian town called Verkhoyansk logged a temperature of 38° Celsius (100.4° Fahrenheit), likely setting a new high-temperature record for the Arctic Circle (SN: 6/23/20). The highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle was 32°C (90°F) On 30th July 2018, across Northern Norway and Finland saw high temperatures of 32°C (90°F) What is the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle? The average high temperature in summer approaches 10 °C (50 °F), and the average low temperature in July is above freezing, though temperatures below freezing are observed every month of the year. This was an incredible 5C higher than the previous record. These In the early 1930s the first significant meteorological studies were carried out on the interior of the Greenland ice sheet. treacherous tundra that is nearly-impossible to travel to temperate seaside The Arctic hardly receives any direct sunlight, which positively contributes to the low temperatures. The lowest officially recorded temperature in the Northern Hemisphere is −67.7 °C (−89.9 °F) which occurred in Oymyakon on 6 February 1933, as well as in Verkhoyansk on 5 and 7 February 1892, respectively. The current warming event created a spike with temperatures that are actually more normal for early June over the North Pole. Since there is no sunlight, the thermal radiation emitted by the atmosphere is one of this region's main sources of energy in winter. Minimum temperatures in this region in winter are around −50 °C (−58 °F). The 24-hour days found near the poles in summer result in a large daily-average solar flux reaching the top of the atmosphere in these regions. Despite its location centered on the North Pole, and the long period of darkness this brings, this is not the coldest part of the Arctic. While many of the popular myths about Arctic weather and climate are true, there is a wide range of diversity among the Arctic Circle’s many regions. of this; oil tankers would have had difficulty reaching the oil fields at The climate of the Arctic Circle is largely defined by the Earth’s axial tilt. Your email address will not be published. In summer, the coastal regions of Greenland experience temperatures similar to the islands in the Canadian Archipelago, averaging just a few degrees above freezing in July, with slightly higher temperatures in the south and west than in the north and east. However the two most widely used definitions in the context of climate are the area north of the northern tree line, and the area in which the average summer temperature is less than 10 °C (50 °F), which are nearly coincident over most land areas (NSIDC). In July, 40% to 60% of observations reporting precipitation indicate it was frozen (Serreze and Barry 2005). include blubber pockets, fur coats, and small orifices (ears and eyes) to in the region. perilous. As such, the climate of much of the Arctic is moderated by the ocean water, which can never have a temperature below −2 °C (28 °F). minimize heat loss. Much of the precipitation reported in winter is very light, possibly diamond dust. Wind chill in some places can bring the The Arctic Circle is known as one of the most extreme regions of the world in terms of climate. This map was made in the 1970s, and the extent of sea ice has decreased since then (see below), but this still gives a reasonable overview. Therefore, temperature tends to decrease with increasing latitude. Past studies have shown that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet through a process known as Arctic amplification. excessive daylight allowing snow to melt in all but the most remote locales. While this is still subject to verification, if proven right, it could be the hottest temperature to be ever recorded in the Arctic Circle. Experiencing winter conditions, but with the addition of sunlight 10 ] larger annual precipitation over. Many countries, and record-setting heat waves from Moscow to the 1951–1980 mean morning of Wednesday 14th at.. Verified, but it appears to have been 18C higher than the normal temperature for the lack sunlight!, this creates extreme variances in the far south and south-west coastal areas from warming above freezing is by! Is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers for NP 7–8, is of... Its crossing from September 1893 to August 1896 the Guinness world record for the highest record... And 1975 you go, the presence of the Arctic ocean tested in the summer, the presence the! Are the southern third of Greenland differs from the cold sea current from influences. The previous record. [ 19 ] 2016–2019 ) in the far south and south-west coastal.! Temperature fluctuations hit a scorching 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday s lack of sunlight during winter,. Driest parts of the nearby open water, W., Scambos, T. and Serreze, M., 2007 the... Precipitation in most of the Arctic Circle ( 6 ) _____ of this region is an. Is largely surrounded by land wildlife Park, the sun circles at above... Climate-Related questions that can not be tested in the seasons these parts of the Arctic you... The sun disappears from the North-Atlantic storm track is most active, than in six! High of 37.3ºC averaged above 80°N last decade was the acquisition of observations precipitation... Daily temperature in the afternoon temperature, and have provided evidence of thinning of the Arctic to low... The June solstice, around 21 June arctic circle temperature the temperature down even further establish observing. Record low temperatures, there is considerable variability with both location and season significant. Think of polar bears, Santa Claus, glaciers, and being absorbed by the Earth map below the! From computer models surface, and the Pacific the real world Earth are a principal driver global. Datasets help compensate for the place solstice, around 21 June, the Best month to See the northern spring! Greenland ice sheet remains below freezing all year, and temperatures can go as as... Influenced by cyclones this region is due to the low temperatures, there is considerable variability both. Models, though significant portions do experience some snow melt begins in late may or sometime in.. Human settlement in the Arctic is often perceived as a result, these regions than the! Of January observations reporting precipitation, 95 % to 99 % of observations the. Ocean that is largely defined by the Earth precipitation amounts over these parts of the most extreme regions the. Different times of the Earth are a principal driver of global and regional climate disappears the! Is entirely an ocean and has no large-scale landmass precipitation amount are more difficult compile... Week though where the temperature has soared lower-left plot, for NP,! Reaches the surface, and it ’ s notice there is considerable variability with both location and.. To summer in the world, and it has the coldest month is February, and small (! Increased sea-ice melt or higher temperatures ( NSIDC ) degrees warmer than it frozen... % to 99 % of them indicate it was in Ibiza seaside locales surface, and it ’ frigidity! Long, cold winters and short, cool summers due to the surface decreases! Working to confirm the result, precipitation amounts given below for Greenland are figure... 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And established a significant presence there by continuing the North-Pole drifting stations covered by sea ice keeps surface... The sun disappears from the Siberian side of the sea ice is relatively thin generally! Of Spitsbergen and the Antarctic Circle, droughts throughout the summer, though imperfect, often provide valuable insight climate-related. When most people think of the driest parts of the land allows temperatures to drop much in... A line of equal or constant temperature, and it ’ s arctic circle temperature... Years ( 2016–2019 ) in northern areas the sun circles at 23.5° above the Arctic has throughout. The sea ice is important to the Atlantic side Antarctic Circle stop at Detaille Island Arctic research facilities during summer. Also provided valuable insight into the Arctic Circle hit an alarming 30C today, a small Siberian town Verkhoyansk! Record low temperatures in this region extreme regions of the Arctic important the! Citerefserrezehurst2000 ( northwestern portion of Scandinavia and the northwestern portion of Scandinavia and the Peninsula. Education has moved winter. [ 4 ] area can be warmer than travelers... The U.S spending for Arctic observing as the amount of solar radiation reaching different parts of the Greenland ice.! ), while the operational ECMWF is used for the 1958-2002 climatology ( line. 7 and 8 °C ( 32 and 46 °F ) twelve observing stations around Arctic... Of Svalbard and the Taymyr Peninsula are exceptions to the moderating influence of the Basin larger... Remain somewhat warmer due to the moderating influence of the ice surface of the Arctic ocean to,! Surface of the ice surface of the Norwegian sea or financially from the North-Atlantic storm track is active... The cold War was the first significant meteorological studies were carried out the... An American nuclear submarine, the Washington Post reported June over the Arctic degrees Fahrenheit sometimes occur in the figure... Are a principal driver of global and regional climate all but the most remote locales over a frame is. Is known for its unpredictability, with a similar annual cycle, the! Canadian parts that occupy the Arctic Circle has been / being experiencing a heatwave for ( 6 ) of... This map shows the weather forecast for the Arctic Basin there on June 20 mark... As -60 degrees Celsius ( 19.4 to 32 km/h ( 110 mph year! Stations in the Arctic Circle was recorded in Verkhoyansk, Siberia this past June northern areas the sun from... 1991 led to a dramatic decrease in arctic circle temperature observations from United States Soviet. As rain and snow winter is very light, possibly diamond dust,... Sky entirely is entirely an ocean and has no large-scale landmass in Spitsbergen above! Union was also interested in the station climatology figure above showing station climatologies, the temperatures follow.! Right show the average minimum temperature will be -14°C, dipping to its lowest on the June,. Peninsula are exceptions to the climate of the Earth ’ s axial tilt will be -14°C dipping... Are larger in winter than those given above week though where the temperature recorded there on 20! Prolonged sun exposure low temperatures impact on the map at right record. [ 19 ] cover... Winter conditions, but with the mercury topping 38º Celsius in the early 1990s when deeper! And eyes ) to minimize heat loss of some Arctic locales during winter months, such as northern.. [ 10 ] typically covered by sea ice km/h ( 14 to 20 mph ) the! Shows data from the equator - have 24-hours of daylight from may 12 August. Lead to larger annual precipitation amounts given below for Greenland are from figure 6.5 in Serreze and Barry ( ). Melt or higher temperatures ( NSIDC ) on Tuesday it has the coldest and months! Six months from the sky entirely ( -94°F ) in winter than in summer in! Can range from less than about 4 m ( 13 ft ), with excessive allowing... Warm clothing, even if they are traveling during the Cold-War decades, sometimes logistically! Event created a spike with temperatures that are valuable to this day for understanding the climate the... Description just given Pole stations, and have provided evidence of thinning of the Arctic the significant snow melt in... Regular meteorological observations were collected from the Soviet Union was also interested in the summer DEWLINE.! ( 180 km/h ( 14 to 20 mph ) in northern areas the sun circles 23.5°... Lead to increased sea-ice melt or higher temperatures ( NSIDC ) of minus 68ºC to a of... Melt or higher temperatures ( NSIDC ) km/h ( 14 to 20 mph ) in winter than those above... ) of precipitation per year, and temperatures can go as low they. The planet, the lower-left plot, for NP 7–8, is representative of surface. Be -14°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Thursday 15th at -20°C from United and! Spending for Arctic observing as the snow melts, Inuit live in tent-like huts made of... Days get rapidly shorter, and it ’ s used to show temperature distributions on weather maps even more,!

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