Coldest spot on Earth identified by satellite
The coldest place on Earth has been measured by satellite to be a bitter minus 93.2 Celsius (-135.8F).
As one might expect, it is in the heart of Antarctica, and was recorded on 10 August, 2010.
Researchers say it is a preliminary figure, and as they refine data from various space-borne thermal sensors it is quite likely they will determine an even colder figure by a degree or so.
The previous record low of minus 89.2C was also measured in Antarctica.
This occurred at the Russian Vostok base on 21 July, 1983.
It should be stated this was an air temperature taken a couple of metres above the surface, and the satellite figure is the "skin" temperature of the ice surface itself. But the corresponding air temperature would almost certainly beat the Vostok mark.
"These very low temperatures are hard to imagine, I know," said Ted Scambos from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
As one might expect, it is in the heart of Antarctica, and was recorded on 10 August, 2010.
Researchers say it is a preliminary figure, and as they refine data from various space-borne thermal sensors it is quite likely they will determine an even colder figure by a degree or so.
The previous record low of minus 89.2C was also measured in Antarctica.
This occurred at the Russian Vostok base on 21 July, 1983.
It should be stated this was an air temperature taken a couple of metres above the surface, and the satellite figure is the "skin" temperature of the ice surface itself. But the corresponding air temperature would almost certainly beat the Vostok mark.
"These very low temperatures are hard to imagine, I know," said Ted Scambos from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
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