Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, a vast, ice-covered landmass known for extreme temperatures. The magnitude of the cold often leads to confusion because different measurement methods yield different record figures. Understanding the lowest temperature recorded requires distinguishing between the long-standing, officially recognized air temperature and the more extreme, unofficial surface temperatures detected from space. This distinction clarifies why Antarctica holds two separate records for the ultimate cold.
The Official World Record Temperature
The world’s official lowest air temperature was recorded at the Russian Vostok Station, located deep within the interior of East Antarctica. This widely recognized record was set on July 21, 1983, when the temperature reached an astonishing -89.2 degrees Celsius (or -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit). This reading holds official status because it was obtained using standard meteorological equipment—a conventional thermometer—and measured the air temperature two meters above the snowy surface.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) validates temperature records based on this standardized methodology to ensure global consistency. The Vostok Station sits at an altitude of 3,488 meters (11,444 feet), making it one of the most isolated research outposts. The combination of high elevation and the depth of the polar winter created the conditions for that record-breaking measurement. This remains the undisputed global record for directly observed air temperature.
Satellite Detection of Even Colder Extremes
While the Vostok reading is the air temperature record, significantly colder temperatures have been observed on the ice surface using advanced remote sensing technology. Scientists analyzing satellite data discovered ultra-cold pockets on the high ridge of the East Antarctic Plateau. These measurements revealed surface temperatures dropping as low as -98 degrees Celsius (about -144 degrees Fahrenheit) in multiple locations.
The most extreme readings, which reached approximately -93.2 degrees Celsius (-135.8 degrees Fahrenheit), were recorded in 2010 and 2013 near a high-altitude area between Dome Argus and Dome Fuji. These satellite instruments, known as radiometers, measure the thermal emission directly from the ice surface, not the air above it. Because the readings are not taken by a ground-based thermometer, the WMO does not recognize them as official world records. However, these findings confirm that the East Antarctic Plateau is the coldest location on Earth, especially where cold air pools in shallow depressions during clear, calm winter nights.
Factors Driving Antarctica’s Extreme Cold
Antarctica’s extreme cold is a consequence of specific physical and atmospheric factors converging over the continent. Its polar location results in a low angle of incoming solar radiation. During the long polar night, the sun disappears entirely, allowing for months of continuous heat loss. The vast ice sheet reflects up to 85% of incoming sunlight—a high albedo—which prevents the surface from absorbing warmth.
The scale and height of the landmass also play a major role in cooling the air. The East Antarctic Plateau is a high-altitude desert, averaging over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) above sea level. This elevation causes air pressure to drop, leading to adiabatic cooling, where the air loses heat as it rises and expands.
The air over the interior is exceptionally dry, with very low specific humidity. Since water vapor acts as a natural greenhouse gas, its scarcity allows heat to radiate directly into space unimpeded. This process is amplified by thermal inversion, where the coldest, densest air settles near the surface. When combined with calm wind conditions, this cold air is trapped and continues to cool, allowing temperatures to plunge to their minimum in shallow depressions of the high plateau.