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Environment

The Antarctic’s polar vortex could be about to split in two

A split in the southern vortex – not seen since 2002 – could lead to sudden warming of the Antarctic stratosphere and hotter weather in Australia and South America

By James Woodford and Madeleine Cuff

9 August 2024

A satellite view of Antarctica

Science History Images / Alamy

Antarctica’s polar vortex could be about to split in two for the first time in more than 20 years after a series of sudden spikes in stratospheric temperatures. If that happens, it could lead to significant warming in Antarctica and an unusually hot summer in Australia and South America.

The southern polar vortex is a clockwise swirl of winds that trap a cold air current above Antarctica during the southern hemisphere winter. The vortex…

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