Among the events sparking concern was “freakish warming at Earth’s South Pole” including “a mind-blowing” above-average reading at a research station.

ANDREA GERMANOSApril 2, 2022

Scientists with the UnitedNations weather agency on Friday expressed fresh concern over the climate crisis following recent extreme events in Antarctica—an area they say should not be taken “for granted.”

“The Antarctic ice sheets hold almost 60 meters of potential sea-level rise. Understanding and properly monitoring the continent is therefore crucial for society’s future well-being.”

Theremarksfrom climate experts with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)—delivered just ahead of a key report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—follow last month’scollapseof East Antarctica’s Conger Ice Shelf,record warmtemperatures, and rarerainfall.

“Antarctica has often been referred to as a ‘sleeping giant,'” said Mike Sparrow, head of the WMO co-sponsored World Climate Research Program, in a statement noting it’s “the…