Why Temperatures at the North Pole Reached 20°C Above Average

News: Recently, temperatures at the North Pole surged more than 20°C above average, reaching levels high enough to cause ice melting. Scientists consider this an extreme winter warming event, though not necessarily the most extreme ever recorded.

Reason for the temperature Spike

1. Deep Low-Pressure System Over Iceland: A low-pressure system developed over Iceland, where atmospheric pressure is lower than in surrounding areas. This system allowed warm air from lower latitudes to move into the Arctic, significantly increasing temperatures.

2. Hot Sea Surface Temperatures in the North-East Atlantic: Unusually high sea surface temperatures in the North-East Atlantic amplified the warming effect.
Warm ocean waters intensified wind-driven heating, bringing even more heat to the Arctic.

3. The Albedo Effect & Ice Melt: The Arctic’s ice cover reflects sunlight, keeping the region cool. As sea ice melts, darker surfaces like land and open water absorb more heat, causing further temperature increases.
This creates a vicious cycle where warming leads to more ice melt, which in turn causes even more warming.

4. Weak Convection in the Arctic: In tropical regions, strong convection (rising warm air) helps distribute heat throughout the atmosphere. In the Arctic, due to weak convection, heat from greenhouse gases remains trapped near the surface, accelerating warming.