What is the coldest place in the world?

Our planet is a place of extremes. When we talk about temperature differences, this definition reaches its limit. From north to south, there are hot, temperate, cold, and very cold places on Earth. Let's find out what is the coldest place in the world?

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The main source of thermal energy on our planet is solar radiation that reaches the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. Upon reaching Earth, the surface partially absorbs sunlight, causing it to heat up. In response, our planet emits heat radiation into space in the form of infrared radiation.

During the journey back into space, some of this energy is reflected back into the atmosphere. This phenomenon, known as global warming, is caused mainly by the presence of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). These gases play the role of a “blanket,” retaining the heat generated by solar radiation and preventing it from spreading completely into space.

To be at the top of the list of coldest places, it is necessary that a location not only records very low temperatures intermittently, but also maintains a low average throughout the year. This is not just about the standard marks, but about the consistency of the cold conditions that characterize the environment.

The coldest point on the planet, located on the eastern Antarctic Plateau, in Antarctica, was discovered to be extremely cold through analysis of satellite data. The researchers began by reviewing previously collected satellite data about a specific ridge on the Antarctic ice sheet.

This original data actually indicated exceptionally low temperatures, reaching 93 degrees Celsius. However, there is a more in-depth analysis, detailed in a study published in the journal Geophysical Research LettersHe revealed that temperatures in the region have already reached lower values, reaching an incredible -98 degrees Celsius.

The researchers identified two main factors: clear weather conditions and an exceptionally low level of humidity in the air. The absence of drag allowed heat to dissipate more easily into space, contributing to the extreme drop in temperature.

Moreover, the very low air humidity played a crucial role, as humidity normally acts as a thermal insulator, retaining heat. With extremely dry air, this barrier has been removed, allowing temperatures to drop further.

Before this record, the Vostok Research Station, located 808 miles from the South Pole in Antarctica, recorded -89.2 degrees Celsius in July 1983, taking advantage of ideal weather conditions to reach the mark. In the same context, the village of Oymyakon, in eastern Siberia, is considered the coldest permanently inhabited place, as its average winter reached -50 degrees Celsius and recorded -71.2 degrees Celsius in 1924.

In addition, the Klink Weather Station, located in Greenland, holds the record for the lowest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere, recording -69.6°C in December 1991. Meanwhile, Yakutsk in Russia recently recorded -62.2°C in January 2023, Which makes it not so. It is not only the coldest city but also the largest city built on permanently frozen ground, located 280 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Places like Oymyakon, Siberia, and Yakutsk in Russia not only reach exceptionally low temperatures, but maintain extremely cold winter averages, making them the undisputed leader in the rankings of the coldest places on the planet.

This annual consideration highlights the persistence of extremely cold weather in these places, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the specific climate conditions that put them at the top of this distinguished list.