The Coldest Place On Earth

  • Released Tuesday, December 24, 2013
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What is the coldest place in the world? It is a high ridge in Antarctica on the East Antarctic Plateau. On a clear winter night, temperatures there can drop to -135.8° Fahrenheit. The coldest spots develop just downhill from the ridge along a 620-mile stretch between two summits. When weather conditions are right, the ridge cools as it radiates heat into space. This creates a layer of super-chilled air above the surface of the snow and ice that collects in clusters of pockets on the ice sheet. Scientists analyzed 32 years’ worth of satellite data, including measurements made by NASA's Earth-observing fleet, and discovered a new record low was reached on August 10, 2010. Watch the video to learn more.

Scientists use NASA satellite data to pinpoint the location.

Scientists use NASA satellite data to pinpoint the location.

Watch this video to see how scientists determined the location of the coldest place on Earth.

This video shows the process by which the coldest place on Earth develops its extreme low temperatures.

The record temperature was discovered at a spot between two summits, Dome A and Dome F, on the East Antarctic Plateau.

The record temperature was discovered at a spot between two summits, Dome A and Dome F, on the East Antarctic Plateau.

The NASA-USGS Landsat 8 satellite provided data that led to the discovery.

The NASA-USGS Landsat 8 satellite provided data that led to the discovery.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NSIDC/Atsuhiro Muto

This page was originally published on Tuesday, December 24, 2013.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:51 PM EDT.