Editing Climate of Antarctica (section)

==Temperature==
The highest temperature ever recorded on Antarctica was {{convert|19.8|C|F|1}} recorded at [[Signy Research Station]], [[Signy Island]] on 30 January 1982.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://public-old.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-verifies-highest-temperatures-antarctic-region |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218174524/https://public-old.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-verifies-highest-temperatures-antarctic-region |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2023 |title=WMO verifies highest temperatures for Antarctic Region |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=12 July 2018 }}</ref><ref name=WMOantarctica>{{cite web |url=https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-verifies-one-temperature-record-antarctic-continent-and-rejects-another |title=WMO verifies one temperature record for Antarctic continent and rejects another |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |date=1 July 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> 

The highest temperature on the Antarctic mainland was {{convert|18.3|C|F|1}} at the [[Esperanza Base]] (Argentina) on 6 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)|url=https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-verifies-one-temperature-record-antarctic-continent-and-rejects-another|title=WMO verifies one temperature record for Antarctic continent and rejects another|date=2021-07-01|accessdate=2022-05-17}}</ref>
[[File:Five Myr Climate Change.svg|thumb|The Antarctic temperature changes during the last several [[Glacial period|glacial]] and [[interglacial]] cycles of the present [[ice age]]]] The lowest air temperature record, the [[Extremes on Earth|lowest reliably measured temperature]] on [[Antarctica]] was set on 21 July 1983, when a temperature of {{convert|−89.2|C}} was observed at [[Vostok, Antarctica|Vostok Station]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wmo.asu.edu/world-lowest-temperature|title=World: Lowest Temperature - ASU World Meteorological Organization|work=asu.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616025722/http://wmo.asu.edu/world-lowest-temperature|archive-date=16 June 2010}}</ref> For comparison, this is {{convert|10.7|C-change|F-change}} colder than [[sublimation (chemistry)|subliming]] [[dry ice]] (at sea level pressure). The elevation of the location is {{convert|3488|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}.

Satellite measurements have identified even lower ground temperatures, with {{convert|−93.2|C}} having been observed at the cloud-free [[Antarctic Plateau|East Antarctic Plateau]] on 10 August 2010.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25287806 Coldest spot on Earth identified by satellite] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414013306/http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25287806 |date=14 April 2016 }}, Jonathan Amos, BBC News, 9 December 2013.</ref>

The lowest recorded temperature of any location on [[Earth's surface]] at {{Coord|81.8|S|63.5|E|dim:10000km}} was revised with new data in 2018 in nearly 100 locations, ranging from {{convert|−93.2|C|F|1}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsidc.org/news/press/2013_ColdestPlace_PR.html|title=Landsat 8 helps unveil the coldest place on Earth|publisher=National Snow and Ice Data Center|date=9 December 2013|author=Natasha Vizcarra|access-date=27 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220034754/http://nsidc.org/news/press/2013_ColdestPlace_PR.html|archive-date=20 December 2013}}</ref> to {{convert|−98|C|F|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |author=Natasha Vizcarra |date=25 May 2018 |title=New study explains Antarctica's coldest temperatures |url=https://nsidc.org/news-analyses/news-stories/new-study-explains-antarcticas-coldest-temperatures |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217210227/https://nsidc.org/news-analyses/news-stories/new-study-explains-antarcticas-coldest-temperatures |archive-date=17 December 2024 |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)}}</ref> This unnamed part of the Antarctic [[plateau]], between [[Dome A]] and [[Dome F]], was measured on 10 August 2010, and the temperature was deduced from radiance measured by the [[Landsat 8]] and other satellites. It was discovered during a [[National Snow and Ice Data Center]] review of stored data in December 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25287806|title=Coldest spot on Earth identified by satellite|publisher=BBC News Science & Environment|date=9 December 2013|author=Jonathan Amos|access-date=27 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226192112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25287806|archive-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> but revised by researchers on 25 June 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsidc.org/sites/nsidc.org/files/files/Scambos_et_al-2018-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf|publisher=The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)|date=25 May 2018|author=Ted Scambos|title=Scambros et al 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications.html|title=BBC Corrections and Clarifications page|author=NOT CORRECTED|access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=13 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013082606/https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This temperature is not directly comparable to the {{convert|-89.2|C|F|1}} reading quoted above, since it is a skin temperature deduced from satellite-measured upwelling radiance, rather than a thermometer-measured temperature of the air {{convert|1.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above the ground surface.

The mean annual temperature of the interior is {{convert|-43.5|C|F|1}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://climatereanalyzer.org/reanalysis/monthly_tseries/|publisher=Climate Change Institute, University of Maine|access-date=18 May 2023|title=Annual mean 2m Temperature for 0-150ºE, 75-90ºS, Climate Reanalyzer}}</ref> The coast is warmer; on the coast Antarctic average temperatures are around {{convert|-10|C|F|1}} (in the warmest parts of Antarctica) and in the elevated inland they average about {{convert|-55|C|F|1}} in Vostok.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/environment/weather|title=Antarctic weather|
website=www.antarctica.gov.au|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105034626/http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/environment/weather|archive-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aari.aq/data/data.asp?lang=0&station=6 |title=Antarctic climatic data |
access-date=7 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507070713/http://www.aari.aq/data/data.asp?lang=0&station=6 |archive-date=7 May 2008 }}</ref>
Monthly means at [[McMurdo Station]] range from {{convert|-26|C|F|1}} in August to {{convert|-3|C|F|1}} in January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/climate_graph/vostok_south_pole_mcmurdo.htm|title=Antarctica Climate data and graphs, South Pole, McMurdo and Vostok|work=coolantarctica.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009114203/http://coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/climate_graph/vostok_south_pole_mcmurdo.htm|archive-date=9 October 2010|access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref>
At the [[South Pole]], the highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-12.3|C|F|1}} on 25 December 2011.<ref name=AMRC>{{cite web|url=http://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/blog/2011/12/28/preliminary-report-record-temperatures-at-south-pole-and-nearby-aws-sites/|title=Preliminary Report: Record Temperatures at South Pole (and nearby AWS sites…)|date=28 December 2011|author=Matthew A. Lazzara|access-date=28 December 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20111230104839/http://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/blog/2011/12/28/preliminary-report-record-temperatures-at-south-pole-and-nearby-aws-sites/|archive-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Along the [[Antarctic Peninsula]], temperatures as high as {{convert|18.3|C|F|1}} have been recorded,{{clarify | reason = Relationship between this statement and the earlier statement about the highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica is unclear.|date=December 2013}} though the summer temperature is below {{convert|0|C|F}} most of the time. Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean. [[East Antarctica]] is colder than [[West Antarctica]] because of its higher elevation.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} The [[Antarctic Peninsula]] has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.