Ultralow Surface Temperatures in East Antarctica From Satellite Thermal Infrared Mapping: The Coldest Places on Earth

Abstract

We identify areas near the East Antarctic ice divide where <−90 °C surface snow temperatures are observed in wintertime satellite thermal‐band data under clear‐sky conditions. The lowest temperatures are found in small (<200 km2) topographic basins of ~2 m depth above 3,800 m elevation. Approximately 100 sites have observed minimum surface temperatures of ~−98 °C during the winters of 2004–2016. Comparisons of surface snow temperatures with near‐surface air temperatures at nearby weather stations indicate that ~−98 °C surfaces imply ~−94 ± 4 °C 2‐m air temperatures. Landsat 8 thermal band data and elevation data show gradients near the topographic depressions of ~6 °C km−1 horizontally and ~4 °C m−1 vertically. Ultralow temperature occurrences correlate with strong polar vortex circulation. We discuss a conceptual model of radiative surface cooling that produces an extreme inversion layer. Further cooling occurs as near‐surface cold air pools in shallow high‐elevation topographic basins, moderated by clear‐air downwelling radiation and heat from subsurface snow.

Uncovering the Uncultivated Majority in Antarctic Soils: Toward a Synergistic Approach

“…Low temperatures are predominantly caused by the permanent ice cover creating an albedo effect (i.e., reflecting solar radiation), the average altitude of over 2 km, and long periods of (nearly) complete darkness (i.e., the austral winter) combined with an aphelion position (Bargagli, 2005, 2008). The record of lowest temperature (-98.6°C) was recorded on Antarctica in 2018 (Scambos et al, 2018). However, yearly average temperatures – the Antarctic Peninsula not included – usually range from -25 to -70°C in winter and -4 to -30°C during the summer, the warmest temperatures appearing in the coastal areas (Bargagli, 2005).…”

Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context

“…The temperature on Earth's surface ranges from -98.6-495ºC (ultra-cold locations in East Antarctica (Scambos et al, 2018) and extremely hot deep-sea hydrothermal vents (McDermott et al, 2018)), with much higher temperatures possible in magma influenced subsurface environments ( Table 2). Fluid temperatures above 100°C are possible whenever the combination of hydrothermal or magmatic activity is present together with high pressure, for example, in the deep subsurface near volcanoes or at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.…”

“…DG devised the topic, supervised paper structure and data collection, conducted literature search, created figures and wrote the paper. et al, 1977;Kavak and Karadogan, 2012;Pontefract et al, 2017;Tambekar et al, 2010 Terrestrial hot springs/geothermal waters 15 -270 0.02 -9.8 0.1 -7.2 b 0.0002saturation Chan et al, 2017;Delmelle and Bernard, 1994;Namsaraev et al, 2003;Qi et al, 2017;Taran, 2009 Polar environments -98.6 -24.3 4.6 -9.6 0.1 -35.5 c 0 -40.2 Aislabie et al, 2006;Dickson et al, 2013;Samarkin et al, 2010;Scambos et al, 2018;Siegert et al, 2001 Deep-sea floor and trenches -1.9 -13.8 d 7.3 -8.1 2.1 -112 3.4 -3.9 Danovaro et al, 2010;Emeis et al, 1996;Mantyla and Reid, 1983 Deep-sea hydrothermal vents < 1 e -464 4 -11 2.1 -50.7 0.1 -8 Konn et al, 2009;Koschinsky et al, 2008;McDermott et al, 2018 Deep hypersaline anoxic basins 10 -65 5.4 -8.6 2.1 -40.5 4 -50 f Karbe, 1986;Mapelli et al, 2017;Merlino et al, 2018;Yakimov et al, 2013Yakimov et al, , 2015 Subsurface ecosystems 3.25 -< 400 g~1 -12.8 < 800 h 0.05 -saturation i Becker et al, 1984;Frank et al, 2016;Lechmann et al, 2014;Prieto et al, 2017;Roadcap et al, 2006;Waldron et al, 2007 Deserts j -19.4 -70 6.8 -10 nr 0.02 -30.8 Dion et al, 2008;…”

Distribution and temporal trends of temperature extremes over Antarctica

“…This is attributed to the fact that favorable weather conditions (e.g. the clear sky, weak winds, and very dry atmosphere) promote the loss of heat via the emission of longwave radiation and lead to extreme low temperature at nighttime (Turner et al 2009, Scambos et al 2018 and hence large diurnal temperature range, though the diurnal variation of solar altitude is small. A larger diurnal temperature range (>10°C) is mainly found over the interior of East Antarctica, Palmer Land, and in the vicinity of Ross Island.…”