A new review, the result of research by the Antarctic Atmospheric River Group, led by the ETH Zurich, the Université Grenoble Alpes, and other French laboratories, which includes researchers from ten countries, highlights the significant role of Antarctic Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) in the region and provides insights into the causes and physical processes driving the atmospheric rivers that reach Antarctica.

These extreme weather events transport vast amounts of heat and moisture from the Southern Hemisphere’s subtropics and mid-latitudes to the Antarctic continent, often leaving lasting impacts on the ice sheet and the broader environment. One of the most notable examples of ARs occurred in March 2022, when it triggered widespread 35-40°C temperature anomalies across East Antarctica, including the largest temperature anomaly observed globally. This event was part of an unusually active AR year that played a crucial role in making 2022 a rare positive mass balance year for Antarctica.

The review synthesizes the life cycle of ARs, emphasizing their atmospheric dynamics and the profound effects they have on the Antarctic ice sheet. The study also describes the specialized tools and methods developed to study ARs in this cold, dry environment. Atmospheric rivers reaching Antarctica are typically associated with high-amplitude pressure couplets driven by Rossby wave patterns, likely initiated by deep tropical convection that transports sub-tropical moisture poleward. These ARs have been linked to significant events such as the collapse of ice shelves, surface melting, and extensive snowfall.

In the face of climate change, ARs are projected to increase in intensity, consistent with the Clausius-Clapeyron effect, which suggests that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. While ARs have currently contributed to a positive mass balance in Antarctica, future studies are necessary to understand how this relationship will evolve with rising temperatures. Accurately quantifying these changes is critical for refining future sea-level rise projections and anticipating the broader impacts on global ecosystems.

This groundbreaking work, led by the Antarctic Atmospheric River Group, emphasizes the urgency of further research into Antarctic ARs as part of broader efforts to understand the future of ice sheets and their role in sea-level rise.

This groundbreaking work, led by the Antarctic Atmospheric River Group, emphasizes the urgency of further research into Antarctic ARs as part of broader efforts to understand the future of ice sheets and their role in sea-level rise. This review has been published in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment on February 11, 2025.