On Sunday, temperatures at the North Pole exceeded 20C above the average, nearing the melting point for sea ice. The spike in temperatures, linked to a deep low-pressure system over Iceland, resulted in unusually mild winter conditions in the Arctic. Scientists noted that, while this warming event is extreme, it may not be the most severe on record. The event reflects broader trends of climate change, where the polar regions experience significantly higher rates of warming compared to the global average due to the melting of sea ice.
Probable not the most extreme ever observed, but still at the upper edge of what can happen in the Arctic, said Mika Rantanen.
This type of event is relatively rare, but we are not able to assess its frequency without further analysis, said Julien Nicolas.
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