How warm arctic weather caused the 'Beast from the East’

Europe is shivering through another day of freezing temperatures as cold air moves down from the Arctic and dumps snow across the continent.

The 'Beast from the East' has brought sub-zero
temperature temperatures to much of Europe.

The storm has been dubbed the 'Beast from the East' and it's caused temperatures drop as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, forced schools to close, and even led to snowstorms in Rome.

While it may seem counter-intuitive, climate change researchers say the unseasonably cold weather is linked to rising temperatures in the Arctic circle.

Listen to the discussion on RN Breakfast -  “How warm arctic weather caused the 'Beast from the East’.”

Canberra geologist helps advance global understanding of climate change

To find answers to one of the biggest issues facing the planet, University of Canberra geologist Duanne White travelled to one of its smallest, most inhospitable and isolated corners.

University of Canberra associate professor
and geologist Duanne White at work
on South Georgia in March 2013. 

Associate professor White braved freezing temperatures and blizzards on the remote and tiny island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic ocean, collecting data on climate change. He and his colleagues launched their final report in London on Friday, which showed ice sheets surrounding the island south-east of South America had shrunk faster than previously believed.

Mr White said ice sheets around South Georgia had shrunk to a tenth of its original size since the last ice age, likely as a result of our planet's warming climate.

He said it would help future projections on the change to ice sheets across the planet, helping model sea level rises as a result of climate change.

Read Finbar O’Mallon’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Canberra geologist helps advance global understanding of climate change.”