Both Poles Heat Up

Recently it has become too common that the Arctic hits record heat by tens of degrees, not just a few. This time both poles are setting records with;

“Earth’s poles are undergoing simultaneous freakish extreme heat with parts of Antarctica more than 70 degrees (40 degrees Celsius) warmer than average and areas of the Arctic more than 50 degrees (30 degrees Celsius) warmer than average.” – US News

Extremes are easier to understand during the extremes of summer and winter, but we’re near the equinox. Early global warming models were very broad and general with warming happening more uniformly than what we’re experiencing. The polar regions are reacting more quickly than the rest of the planet which means an acceleration of sea ice and glaciers melting more rapidly, accelerating sea level rise. The weird weather in urban areas are easier to witness because they affect where most people live. The polar regions, however, are reacting much more aggressively and are affecting more fragile environments; but are harder for researchers to study and harder for many people to relate to. The effects there, however, will reach everywhere. It’s all the same planet and weather knows no borders.