Science Source

Warming of the Antarctic ice-sheet surface since the 1957 International Geophysical Year

Shows that significant warming extends well beyond the Antarctic Peninsula to cover most of West Antarctica, an area of warming much larger than previously reported
Finds that West Antarctic warming exceeds 0.1 °C per decade over the past 50 years, and is strongest in winter and spring
Finds that, although this is partly offset by autumn cooling in East Antarctica, the continent-wide average near-surface temperature trend is positive
Simulations using a general circulation model reproduce the essential features of the spatial pattern and the long-term trend
Suggests that neither can be attributed directly to increases in the strength of the westerlies
Concludes that regional changes in atmospheric circulation and associated changes in sea surface temperature and sea ice are required to explain the enhanced warming in West Antarctica