Record-High Temperatures in the Antarctic–A Synoptic Case Study

Abstract

During the period 23?29 December 1978 abnormally high temperatures were recorded at several Antarctic stations. New records were set at South Pole, MeMurdo. and Vostok, and near record high temperatures were reached at coastal stations in East Antarctica. Synoptic scale events accompanying these unprecedented high temperatures were investigated using surface, satellite and radiosonde data. The high temperatures were associated with two intrusions of warm air which penetrated the continent from the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sectors. Warming at South Pole occurred with the passage of a jet-like feature and its accompanying baroclinic zone.