The Jamgok Research Station in Antarctica recorded its highest temperature ever in January.
The Korea Polar Research Institute noted on the 14th that the maximum temperature at the Jamgok Research Station was 8.1 degrees Celsius on January 1st, surpassing 6.7 degrees Celsius from 2021, marking the highest January temperature on record. The average temperature for January was also minus 0.3 degrees, the same as the previous record set in December 2020.
Han Ji-hyun, secretary of the 12th winter research team at the Jamgok Research Station, who is working at the station again after seven years since 2018, said, "The snow accumulated around the station and its vicinity has noticeably decreased compared to previous years, and particularly, the melting snow has frequently resulted in water pooling in various places around the buildings."
The Korea Polar Research Institute attributed the unusual high-temperature phenomenon last month to a lack of snowfall and a prolonged period of clear weather during the summer, which has led to surface heating and föhn effects. The föhn effect occurs when winds climb high mountains and descend on the opposite side, transforming into hot dry winds.
The highest temperature recorded at the Jamgok Research Station was 8.8 degrees on March 18, 2022. At that time, a heat wave occurred in the eastern Antarctic Ocean, causing temperatures in some areas of East Antarctica to rise by 30 to 40 degrees above average, resulting in abnormal high temperature phenomena.
Shin Hyung-chul, director of the Korea Polar Research Institute, stated, "Although the Jamgok Research Station is located in East Antarctica, which is relatively less affected by global warming, unexpected changes have often occurred in a short period recently. We will reaffirm the importance and role of the station in Antarctica as a climate change barometer and do our utmost to fulfill the missions assigned to the institute, including responding to climate change."