Southern Hemisphere: Lowest Temperature
| Record Value | -89.2°C (-128.6°F) |
|---|---|
| Date of Record | 21/7/1983 |
| Length of Record | 1912-present |
| Instrumentation | Presumably Maximum/Minimum Thermometer in Standard Stevenson Screen |
| Geospatial Location | Vostok, Antarctica [77°32'S, 106°40'E, elevation: 3420m (11,220ft)] |
References
Krause and Flood, 1997: Weather and Climate Extremes, US Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Engineering Centerpp. 89; Information Bulletin of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition (No. 105)
Discussion
This record was confirmed by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute at Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia. Extreme cold resulted from absence of solar radiation, clear skies, little vertical mixing, calm air for a long duration and the station's high elevation.
Previous Record
-88.3°C (-127°F), 24/8/1960 at Vostok Foreign Branch, 1968: Worldwide extremes of temperature, precipitation and pressure recorded by continental ara, U.S Dept. of Commerce; Environmental Sciences Services Administration pp. 4
Additional Images
Closeup Satellite Image of Modern Vostok Station
Regional Satellite Image of Modern Vostok Station