Thread by @weatherindia

#SearingArctic | Unprecedented Heat Wave Sweeps North Pole; Temperatures Breach All-Time High

weather.com/en-IN/india/ne…

📸 : (John Miller/ NOAA Mauna Loa Observatory)

By @Mrigakshidixit

Verkhoyansk—a Siberian small town located in the #ArcticCircle breached the highest temperature record on June 20, 2020.

The temperature reached over 38°C (100° F)—a whopping 18°C more than normal mercury levels for this season.

#Trivia | The town used to be known for its extremely low temperatures, which drops to the level of -69.8°C, making it one of the coldest places on the planet.

As per WMO records, the previous such high temperature in the Verkhoyansk was recorded at 37.3°C on July 25, 1988. Another town, Fort Yukon in Alaska recorded the first-ever 37.7°C in 1915.

Reportedly, since the past few weeks, places around the arctic region have been witnessing an increase in the temperature levels, which was rarely seen earlier.

#TheArctic is regarded to be one of the fastest-warming regions worldwide and is said to be heating at twice the global average. As per the WMO data, the annual surface air temperatures over the last four years (2016–2019) in the Arctic region have been the highest on record.

Moreover, the impact of rising temperatures can be clearly seen through the melting of Arctic sea ice. In September 2019, the volume of Arctic sea-ice after its melting season declined by more than 50% compared to the mean value for 1979–2019.

As per the Russian Forest Service, about 12 million acres of land was on fire in early June. Increase in wildfire activity significantly contributes to a rise in temperatures.

According to reports, since 2003 there has been a drastic increase in the emissions from Arctic fires in the past two summers.

The emissions during June 2019 and June 2020, is said to be higher than combined emissions from all the June months from 2003-2018.