14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, record high temperatures were documented by researchers at Argentina's Esperanza Base and Base Marambio in Antarctica on two consecutive days.
Thus, an abnormally elevated temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius (63.3 degrees Fahrenheit) was reported at Base Marambio on Monday, March 23.
The following day, Esperanza Base scientists recorded an ever-higher temperature. Specifically, they got to enjoy a toasty 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.5 degrees Celsius).
The world is warming, there is no denying it
These two research facilities under Argentinian administration both sit towards the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, in a region known as Graham Land. The distance between them is one of about 60 miles (100 kilometers).
Weather Underground tells us that, before last week's unprecedented warmth, the highest temperature ever recorded at Esperanza Base was the 17.1 degrees Celsius (62.7 degrees Fahrenheit) documented on April 24, 1961.
As for Base Marambio, it is understood that the previous record for this research facility in Antarctica was the 16.5 degrees Celsius (61.7 degrees Fahrenheit) reported on December 7, 1992.
True, the World Meteorological Organization is yet to officially recognize the temperatures documented last week by researchers in the Antarctic Peninsula as absolute records for the continent.
Still, Argentinian scientists are convinced that, prior to last week's readings, such abnormally elevated temperatures had never before been reported in this corner of the world.
Interestingly enough, it looks like as many as 5 new national heat records have been established all across the globe since the beginning of 2015 until now, the one in Antarctica included.
Record temperatures of 35.5 degrees Celsius (95.9 degrees Fahrenheit) and 43.0 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) have so far this year been reported in Equatorial Guinea and Ghana.
Besides, France's Wallis and Futuna Territory and Samoa have recorded temperatures of 35.5 degrees Celsius (95.9 degrees Fahrenheit) and 36.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 degrees Fahrenheit), respectively.
How the record heat in Antarctica came to happen
Specialists say that it was warm air originating from South America that caused the temperature increases recorded in the Antarctic Peninsula by Esperanza Base and Base Morambio researchers.
This warm air reached the research facilities and their surrounding regions aided by a fast flowing but fairly narrow air current that caused an increase in air pressure above the Antarctic Peninsula.