Recent climate variability in the vicinity of the antarctic peninsula

Abstract Surface air temperature records from stations on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula show a higher degree of interannual variability and stronger long‐term warming trends than recorded elsewhere in Antarctica. Possible mechanisms for driving these fluctuations are investigated. The extreme climatic sensitivity of this region may be linked to a stronger coupling between temperatures and regional sea‐ice extent than is seen elsewhere in Antarctica. Significant interannual persistence of air temperature anomalies suggests a link with ocean temperatures or circulation.