Extreme Antarctic Cold of Late Winter 2023

A brief analysis of 500-hPa geopotential height anomalies shows how the mid-tropospheric atmospheric environment evolves in relation to these extreme cold temperatures. The monthly 500- hPa geopotential height anomalies show strong negative anomalies in August. Examination of composite geopotential height anomalies during each of the four cold phases suggests various factors leading to cold temperatures, including both southerly off-content flow and calm atmospheric conditions.

Understanding the atmospheric environment that leads to such extreme cold temperatures can improve prediction of such events and benefit Antarctic operations and the study of Antarctic meteorology and climatology. Data used: UW-Madison Automatic Weather Station data, State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather AWS program, and ERA5 reanalysis data were used.