CJMYThe Russian town of Verkhoyansk which is in the Arctic Circle has reached a record of 38C (100.4F) temperatures last weekend.
The record Arctic temperature, more typical of the Tropics, comes a few months after the Argentine research base, Esperanza, on the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, registered a new record temperature of 18.4C (65.3F) on 6 February.
According to World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the heat spike follows a prolonged Siberian heatwave and wildfire period after an unusually warm spring that was lack of snow.
The heatwave dries out all the trees, grass, moss and soils, making them more likely to catch on and sustain fires that are caused by lightning strikes or human. There have been an increasing number of fires observed via satellite images this month. This year the fires have begun burning even earlier than the usual July start with scientists suggesting the intensity of the fires could exceed previous years.
Arctic fires that occur on or near a permafrost causes it to thaw faster. Once the permafrost melts, it can dry out and ignite, creating a vicious cycle of more fires and melting permafrost. Arctic fires can further exacerbate global warming by releasing large amounts of methane. The methane is a potent greenhouse gas, which is 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
According to WMO the Arctic is heating at roughly twice the global average. Rising temperatures in the Arctic affect wildlife who are dependent on ice, by destroying their habitat and disrupting their food supply. Local communities are also heavily impacted, as it becomes more difficult to fish and hunt for food.
Rapid Arctic warming also causes glaciers to melt, amplifying global warming and accelerating sea-level rise which disrupts weather patterns.
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