Polar Research Institute Confirms 'Foehn Phenomenon' as Cause
"Research Continues to Clarify Impact of Global Warming"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Korean researchers have identified the cause of the abnormal high-temperature phenomenon that occurred in Antarctica two years ago.
According to the Korea Polar Research Institute on the 28th, on February 9, 2020, at the Argentine Marambio Station located on Seymour Island in the Antarctic Peninsula, a temperature of 15.5℃ was observed, which is 14.6℃ higher than the average temperature over the past 40 years. On the same day, another observation station on Seymour Island recorded 20.75℃, the highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctic meteorological observations, but it was not recognized as an official record due to measurement errors.
Dr. Kim Sung-joong and the research team at the Korea Polar Research Institute explained that the extreme high-temperature phenomenon on Seymour Island was caused by the Foehn phenomenon. The Foehn phenomenon occurs when wind crosses a mountain range and descends on the leeward side, becoming warm and dry; it can also be easily encountered on the east coast of Korea.
The latitude region of 60 to 65 degrees, where the Antarctic Peninsula is located, experiences westerly winds due to strong low-pressure systems. These winds pass over the mountain ranges running south to north on the Antarctic Peninsula, creating the Foehn phenomenon and causing high temperatures in the northeastern part of the Antarctic Peninsula where Seymour Island is located.
The research team analyzed the days of the abnormal high-temperature occurrence and the preceding days, identifying a case different from the typical Foehn phenomenon, which is accompanied by strong winds and rapid temperature rises. Heat was steadily supplied eastward across the Antarctic Peninsula over two days with weak winds, leading to an unprecedented high-temperature event.
Due to this unusual phenomenon, extreme warming appeared across West Antarctica during this period. Although the King Sejong Station, located 250 km northwest, was not directly affected by the Foehn phenomenon, it recorded a temperature of 8.3℃, higher than the average for February on the same day. Three days earlier, the Argentine Esperanza Station in the northeastern Antarctic Peninsula recorded 18.3℃, which is recognized as the highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctic meteorological observations.
The abnormal high-temperature phenomenon in Antarctica continues recently. Korean Antarctic research stations have consecutively broken their highest temperature records this year, with King Sejong Station recording 13.9℃ on February 7 and Jang Bogo Station recording 8.8℃ on March 18. This is the first time a positive temperature was recorded at Jang Bogo Station in March.
Kim Sung-joong, head of the Atmospheric Research Division at the Korea Polar Research Institute, said, "The frequency of abnormal high-temperature phenomena in Antarctica is expected to increase gradually," adding, "We will continue related research to fundamentally identify how these extreme phenomena are connected to global warming."
The results of this study were published on May 31 in a special issue of the international academic journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
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