Antarctic Circle

• Recent spikes in ocean heat content and average global air temperature have left climate scientists across the world scrambling to find the cause.
• The global average air temperature, relative to 1850-1900, exceeded the 1.5℃ lower Paris Agreement threshold during part of March and the first days of June.
• This last happened in 2020, and before that during the powerful 2015-16 El Niño.
• Given the impending El Niño, we all need to take extra notice of what lies ahead for the next few years.

How much warmer are the oceans this year?

• Because of this, any significant upward trend in average ocean heat is considered a harbinger for the acceleration of human-driven climate change more generally.
• The global sea surface temperature anomaly on June 13 was about 4.5 standard deviations above the baseline global average.
• The 36-month running average for the Earth Energy Imbalance is now at a record 1.36 Watts per square metre.

Why is this happening now?

• These include rapidly declining sea ice in Antarctica and unusually warm temperatures in many parts of the world.
• The submarine volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in January 2022 and ejected record-breaking amounts of water vapour into the stratosphere.
• Water vapour acts as a potent greenhouse gas, and this may be contributing to the currently observed warming.
• Both these forms of atmospheric aerosols have a cooling effect, as they reflect a small percentage of sunlight back to space.
• Notably, how will the lingering atmospheric water vapour from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption amplify any El Niño warming?

• Guests on this much-awaited polar adventure sailed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on Quark Expeditions' game-changing new ship, Ultramarine.
• "Our Expedition Team is especially excited to welcome guests back to the Antarctic region," said Wendy Batchelor, Vice-president of Marketing for Quark Expeditions.
• Quark Expeditions offers guests the largest portfolio of off-ship adventure options in the Polar Regions, ranging from Alpine heli trekking and Exclusive Heli Landing to camping and Zodiac cruising.
• Quark Expeditions' Antarctic 2022-23 itineraries will visit numerous remote destinations, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, the South Shetland Islands and the Lemaire Channel, to mention a few.

• For more information about Atlas Ocean Voyages' new winter 2023-24 season, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com .
• "World Navigator and World Traveller offer the perfect combination of adventure and luxury on an Antarctica expedition," said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages.
• With Atlas, travelers can start at the top of their bucket list for an immersive and transformative expedition to Antarctica."
• Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxe-adventure, expedition cruise line designed for discerning, fun-seeking travelers to immerse in unique and awe-inspiring moments in remote and captivating destinations.

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