Ice melt on the world’s coldest continent was the lowest in 30
years during the 2008-2009 melt season, according to new
research. The finding was published in the journal Geophysical
Research Letters last month by Marco Tedesco, a research
scientist at the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology,
cooperatively managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; and
Andrew Monaghan, National Center for Atmospheric Research
scientist. “A 30-year minimum Antarctic snowmelt record occurred
during austral summer 2008–2009 according to spaceborne
microwave observations for 1980-2009,” their abstract states.
“Strong positive phases of both the El-Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) and the Southern Hemisphere Annular Mode (SAM) were
recorded during the months leading up to and including the
2008–2009 melt season.” World Climate Report posted the
following line graph to illustrate the Antarctic snow melt index
(October-January) from 1980-2009: The report included a list of
NASA stories that highlight record high amounts of