Energy

Arctic Temperatures Just Spiked, But Is That Unusual?

REUTERS/Kathryn Hansen/NASA

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Michael Bastasch DCNF Managing Editor
Font Size:

Warm air made its way up to the high Arctic in the last few days, driving temperatures up to 20 degrees above average.

While it’s not unusual for Arctic temperatures to spike in winter, news drove a wave of speculation about whether the Arctic has reached a global warming tipping point.

Environmental writer Eric Holthaus claimed on Sunday the high Arctic “at its warmest wintertime temperature ever measured” between November and early March.

Warm moist air from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans have warmed up the Arctic above the 80th parallel. It should be noted, however, that the Arctic circle actually starts at 66 degrees North, meaning the record heat is over a much narrower area.

Greenland hit 6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 35 degrees above average. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that parts of Greenland were warmer than most of Europe — a little misleading since Europe is engulfed in freezing winter temperatures.

So, how unusual is this?

Cato Institute atmospheric scientist Ryan Maue looked at high Arctic temperature data going back to 1958 shows that warm spikes are nothing new. An EKG-like pattern is clearly visible in the data, but there is a warming tend. Data before the satellite-era — 1976 — has some problems, so it’s hard to say the current spike is for sure a record. Most of the Arctic warming has come during the winter months, Maue said.

NOW WATCH:

NASA sea ice expert Alek Petty said heat from the North Atlantic and North Pacific have hit the Arctic in the past, but told Earther events like this now resemble “a heat wave on steroids” because of global warming.

“The key is they’re happening more frequently, lasting longer and their intensity is increasing,” Petty said. “It’s this triple whammy of factors.”

Warm air from the North Pacific has eaten away at sea ice in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. Sea ice levels are at a record-low for the Arctic as a whole. Satellite records go back to 1979.

Follow Michael on Facebook and Twitter

Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.