With Christmas just days away, Santa’s “home” in the North Pole is experiencing some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded. In fact, the rising temperatures are 32 degrees – that’s right, the melting point of ice.
Researchers at Climate Central have released a report revealing that the Arctic region is experiencing record-high temperatures this month. In fact, the weather is typically 20 degrees below zero however, this December temperatures in the North Pole are reaching above 32 degrees.
Typically the fall brings in a new era of ice growth in the North Pole. But, this November there was actually a decrease in ice growth. A phenomenon that is that has not been since in the past 40 years, since researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center started studying the Arctic ice caps.
Researchers point out that the North Pole should be around 95% covered with sea ice. But, this year only 80 percent of the Arctic region is currently covered with ice.
It all started last November when temperatures were 27 degrees above normal for that time of year. The temperatures declined slightly however, it is continuing to get warmer and warmer in the North Pole.
What does this mean?
Researchers argue that extremely warm weather in the North Pole can have serious consequences. Including affecting feeding and behavior patterns of animals, which could arguably led to mass starvation. In fact, scientists pointed out that in 2013 61,000 reindeers died in the Russia as a result of warming temperatures.
Other animals affected by warming temperatures include whales and polar bears, as their habitat is largely changing due to smaller ice caps.
This is not the first time this has happened. Last year, temperatures on the North Pole rose above freezing temperatures. What is supposed to be winter in the North Pole, the Arctic was experiencing above-freezing temperatures in 2015.
With that being said, rising ocean levels, increasing carbon dioxide levels, and extreme weather patterns may continue to surge as long as the world’s climate continues to get warmer and warmer.