Warming in Antarctica could exceed initial predictions, researchers believe in a recent study. According to their analyzes of ice cores, warming in Antarctica would be twice as high as in the rest of the world, well beyond predicted climate models.
Scientists based in France, Germany and the UK have used data from 78 ice cores to trace 1,000 years of climate change in Antarctica. The results reveal a warming that can reach between 0.22°C and 0.32°C per decade, i.e. a value 20 to 50% higher than the predictions of climate models.
This amplification of warming in Antarctica can be explained by the phenomenon of polar amplification, where the melting of snow and ice leads to a decrease in the reflection of sunlight. However, Antarctica, with its thicker ice cover, was supposed to be less affected by this phenomenon.
The scientists therefore underline the importance of bringing together the knowledge of paleoclimatologists, statisticians and modellers in order to better understand and reconcile models and observations concerning the poles. Furthermore, they also raise the question of whether these climate models are also underestimated for other phenomena, which could have implications for predictions of sea level rise, for example.
This study highlights the urgency of taking measures to combat global warming, particularly in the polar regions. The Antarctic continent, as an important regulator of the global climate, deserves special attention in order to preserve its fragile ecosystem and avoid serious consequences for the entire planet.
It is therefore time to act collectively and individually to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect our environment. Warming in Antarctica is just one of many signs of climate change happening before our eyes. It is urgent to take concrete measures to reverse the trend and preserve our planet for future generations.