Prior increases in temperatures in these regions have led to the collapse of Antarctic ice sheets that in turn significantly contribute to rising global sea levels.
[1] Climate researchers found that a weakening in the Antarctic polar vortex, a "band of cold air and low pressure that spins in the stratosphere around each pole", was the primary cause of the heat wave.
[4] MetDesk director Michael Dukes noted that 2024's El Niño was a significant contributor to increased Antarctic temperatures in addition to anthropogenic climate change.
[1] ETH Zürich climate researcher Jonathan Wille attributed the heatwave to a "really rare" several week long “southern stratospheric warming event” across the continent.
[1] Berkeley Earth research scientist Zeke Hausfather stated that the Antarctic heat wave was a primary contributor to the hottest days of the planet in meteorological history recorded during July 2024.