For the first time in history, Antarctica hits 20 ° C

On February 9, Brazilian scientists recorded the temperature of 20.75 ° C in Antarctica, the first time that the 20 ° C mark has been reached on the continent since monitoring began. The previous record was 19.8 ° C, broken in 1982.

According to scientists, the Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it have warmed by about 3 ° C since the pre-industrial era. The record was described by experts as "incredible and abnormal".

In the opinion of the Brazilian researchers responsible for the record, the increase in temperature beyond 20 ° C is a consequence of events related to El Niño and changes in ocean currents.

It is important to remember that Antarctica retains about 70% of the world's fresh water in the form of snow and ice. According to the UN, the oceans may have their levels elevated by more than 100 centimeters if human efforts to reduce gas emissions and take care of the Antarctic ice reserves are insufficient.