Antarctica: Melting Glaciers Aren’t as Dramatic as Feared
Occasionally, I see dramatic news about how the glaciers are melting in Antarctica and how environmental organisations release scary or catastrophic news. Is it really so serious? Let’s have a look at the numbers.
Average annual rainfall in Antarctica is around 50 mm on the coast and less than 20 mm inland. Most of the precipitation falls in the form of snow, mainly in the winter months. Rain is very rare in Antarctica as temperatures are usually well below freezing.
In some parts of Antarctica, especially in West Antarctica, glaciers are losing up to 7 metres of thickness per year. In other areas, the loss may be less, but generally, it is a few metres per year.
Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. Temperatures here vary greatly depending on the season and location:
- In winter: Inland temperatures can drop to -70°C, while on the coast they are around -20°C to -30°C.
- In summer: Inland, temperatures range between -10°C and -40°C, while on the coast they can reach up to 10°C.
- Record temperature: The lowest recorded temperature on Earth was measured at the Vostok station in Antarctica and reached -89.2°C.
Salt water, such as seawater, freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water due to its salt content. The average freezing temperature of seawater is around -1.8°C to -2°C.
In Antarctica, the amount of newly formed ice can vary greatly depending on the specific area and season. In some areas, especially during the winter months, the ice can grow by several metres per year. For example, in the Ross Sea area, the annual increase of ice can be up to 7 metres.
When I look at the numbers, 7 metres down and 7 metres up, I don’t see any drama.