Record-breaking heatwaves hit both Antarctica and the Arctic simultaneously this week, with temperatures reaching 47°C and 30°C higher than normal.
So let's take a closer look at what's driving the extreme anomalies for each region, and the flow-on effects for polar wildlife like penguins and polar bears.Antarctica's heatwave was driven by a slow, intense high pressure system located southeast of Australia, which carried vast amounts of warm air and moisture deep into Antarctica's interior. It was coupled with a very intense low pressure system over the east Antarctic interior.
Since it's autumn in Antarctica, temperatures in the continent's interior weren't high enough to melt glaciers and the ice cap. But that's not to say large swings in temperature didn't occur.For example, Vostok in the middle of the ice plateau hit a provisional high of -17.7°C .
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