Norway’s archipelago, Svalbard recorded its highest-ever temperature of 21.7 °C on July 25. Norway’s Meteorological Institute announced the archipelago, nestled midway between the mainland and the North Pole, witnessed a record high temperature. A Norwegian report informed last year that the Arctic islands are warming up faster than almost anywhere in the world. The report highlighted risks in other parts of the Arctic from Alaska to Siberia. In 2019, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia recorded the highest temperature ever on Earth.
Svalbard Records Highest Ever Temperature Of 21.7 °C
The main settlement in Svalbard, Longyearbyen is located around 1300km from the North Pole. The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is a visa-free country home to more than 50 nationalities who set foot there. However, the Meteorological Institute informed on Twitter “A 41-year-old record has been broken in Longyearbyen.” The temperature measured 21.7 degrees Celsius above the previous record from 1979, between 5 pm and 6 pm CET on July 25.
BREAKING: The temperature in Longyearbyen reached 21.7 C at 18:00 saturday afternoon, a new all time heat record. Old record 21.3 C 16.7 1979 pic.twitter.com/3A7ebM5DdI
— Torsten Hanssen (@VaerTorsten) July 25, 2020
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Last February, the Norwegian Centre for Climate Studies stated the average temperature in Svalbard leapt between three and five degrees Celcius since the early 1970s. It also indicated that it might rise by a total of 10C (18F) by 2100 id the world greenhouse gas emissions keeps rising. The increasing temperature can thaw the frozen ground underpinning many roads, buildings and airports.
Increasing Temperatures Can Cause Landslides & Avalanches
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The report also added that it can cause more landslides and avalanches. In fact, in 2015, two people died due to an avalanche which destroyed 10 houses in Longyearbyen. A warming climate also threatens wildlife in Svalbard like the polar bears and seals, which depend on the sea ice cover. Kruthika Jain, a 24-year old Indian girl went on an Arctic expedition for 8 days. Check out her inspiring video.