But a lesser heatwave in the Arctic may be of more concern
不過，於較少熱浪的北極或許更有問題。
Mar 24th 2022
The concordia research station is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. At 3,000m above sea level on the Antarctic Plateau, the temperature rarely rises above -25°C even in the summer.
法國與義大利所屬康科迪亞研究站是地球上最荒涼的地方之一。在南極高原上，超過海平面3千米處。即使在夏季，溫度也很少上升超過-25°C。
In midwinter it can fall to around -80°C. The air is painfully dry, and fingers, toes and noses can freeze in minutes. The dozen or so crew, mainly French and Italian, who live and work in the station would normally venture out only for essential work.
在仲冬，溫度會降至-80°C左右。空氣令人難受地乾燥，手指、腳趾及鼻子會在幾分鐘內凍僵。在此研究站生活及工作的十幾名工作人員，主要是法國及意大利人，通常只會為了必要的工作，才冒險外出。
But Concordia, where winter is approaching, has recently experienced a heatwave. On March 18th the temperature reached a high of -11.8°C—more than 40°C warmer than the average for this time of year. The air was so mild that the station’s research doctor went for a jog.
不過，在冬季即將來臨的康科迪亞研究站，最近經歷了熱浪。2022年3月 18日，溫度達到-11.8°C的高點，比每年這個時候的平均溫度高出40°C。空氣如此暖和，以至於該站研究醫生外出慢跑。
Similarly freakish weather was recorded across eastern Antarctica. Temperatures at the Russian-run Vostok research station rose to -17.7°C, more than 15°C above the previous record for March, set in 1967. Across the continent temperatures were 4.5°C higher than usual (though in recent days they have returned to a normal range).
南極洲東部各地也記錄了類似的怪異天氣。於俄羅斯經營的沃斯托克研究站，溫度上升到-17.7°C，比1967年3月創下的先前記錄，高出多於15°C。該大陸各地溫度，比平時高4.5°C(雖然最近幾天，已經恢復到正常範圍)。
Meteorologists have attributed the latest heatwave to an atmospheric “river” of warm, damp air blowing towards Antarctica from the Southern Ocean near Australia. It is difficult to know whether climate change is to blame for one-off weather events.
氣象學家們已經將此最新的熱浪歸因於，從靠近澳大利亞的南大洋，吹向南極洲之溫暖、潮濕空氣的大氣“水道”。這很難知曉，氣候變遷是否應歸咎於，一次性的天氣事件。
But over the past 65 years or so there has been an increase in the number of “high temperature” days at Antarctic stations.
不過，在過去65年左右的期間，於南極諸多研究站的“高溫”天數，一直有所增加。
Most regions of Antarctica have been spared global warming. In the late 20th century a large hole opened up in the ozone layer above the South Pole. This has a regional cooling effect, which has offset much of the heating caused by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
南極洲的大部分地區，一直未受到全球暖化的影響。於20世紀後期，在南極上方的臭氧層，出現了一個大洞。這具有抵消大氣中，溫室氣體濃度上升，引起之大部分熱量的區域性冷卻效應。
Temperatures on the continent rarely clamber above freezing, which preserves its vast ice sheets (although rising sea temperatures do threaten some areas). Even in the recent surge, temperatures stayed well below zero.
於該大陸的溫度很少攀升超過，保持其巨大冰原(雖然上升的海水溫度，確實威脅到某些地區)的冰點。即使在最近的急劇上升中，溫度依然遠低於零度。
But a heatwave at the opposite pole may pose a bigger problem. Last week some Arctic stations were 30°C hotter than the season’s average between 1979 and 2000.
不過，在另一極(北極)的熱浪可能造成較大的問題。上週，一些北極研究站的溫度比1979至2000年，此季節的平均溫度高出30°C。
In polar regions near Russia the mercury was pushed above freezing, at what should be one of the coldest months of the year. In Svalbard, an archipelago north of mainland Norway, the temperature hit a record 3.9°C.
在靠近俄羅斯的北極地區，在應該是一年中，最冷的月份之一，水銀柱(溫度計)被推升超過冰點。在挪威本土北方的斯瓦爾巴群島，溫度達到創記錄的3.9°C。
The most recent data show that the Arctic is now warming three to four times faster than the global average. Heatwaves are becoming more common and—as more ice melts during the summer and less forms in the winter—Arctic sea ice is in rapid retreat.
最新的數據顯示，目前北極暖化比全球平均速度更快三到四倍。熱浪正變得更為普遍，且隨著夏季期間更多冰層融化，及在冬季較少形成，北極海冰是處於迅速消退中。
This matters for regions south of the Arctic circle as well. Shrinking ice caps further accelerate warming because white ice reflects heat from the sun, whereas dark patches of open water absorb it.
這對北極圈以南的地區也有問題。縮小的冰原進一步加速暖化，因為白色的冰反射來自太陽的熱量，而開放水域的暗色區域吸收熱量。
Ocean currents are being disrupted, which changes weather patterns across Europe and North America. What happens in the Arctic does not always stay in the Arctic.
洋流正遭擾亂，這改變了歐洲及北美各地的天氣模式。北極所發生的事，並非總是停留於北極。
網址：https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/03/24/parts-of-antarctica-have-been-40degc-warmer-than-their-march-average
翻譯：許東榮
文章定位：
