A white Christmas in the Arctic is hardly possible this year.
Temperatures of two days were far warmer than normal, above the
freezing point. This is just adding to the problem of low amount of
winter sea ice.
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial
North Pole, is defined as the point in the Northern Hemisphere where
the Earth’s axis of rotation meets its surface. The North Pole is
located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean amid waters that are almost
permanently covered with constantly shifting sea ice.
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On Thursday, a Danish Meteorological Institute meteorologist, Jesper
Eriksen, reported a buoy only 87 miles south of the North Pole had
recorded temperatures just above freezing, crossing 32 degrees
Fahrenheit.
According to meteorologist, Andrew Freedman, the temperature was about
40 degrees warmer than normal for this time of the year in the
Arctic.
This heat wave that lasted for two days resembles a similar event that
took place last year in the region.
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According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the Arctic sea
ice remains at a historic low extent as of Thursday. The annual
regrowth of sea ice has been slowed due to the absorption of heat and
penetration of warm winds despite the winter.
A series of temperature spikes far higher than normal have been created due to a number of storms that hit the sea ice as well. Scientists are surprised at what they are seeing this year. NOAA’s Arctic Report Card reported historic high temperatures for the region in September, contributing to this year being the warmest on record.
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