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The Coldest Place on Earth: Antarctica Hit -128.6F
Why East Antarctica holds the record for extreme cold
Antarctica holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth at minus 128.6F. The extreme cold at Vostok Station can freeze CO2 out of the air.
Key Facts
Coldest Temperature Recorded
Minus 128.6F (minus 89.2C)
Location
Vostok Station, East Antarctica
Date Recorded
July 21, 1983
Average Winter Temperature
Minus 76F (minus 60C)
Elevation of Vostok Station
11,444 feet above sea level
Ice Thickness Below Vostok
Over 2.3 miles thick
Satellite Detected Low
Minus 136F in 2010
Sunlight in Winter
Zero hours for months
Staff at Vostok Station
13 to 25 researchers
CO2 Freezing Point
Minus 109.3F (minus 78.5C)
Antarctica Ice Volume
26.5 million cubic kilometers
Continent Size
Larger than Europe
About The Coldest Place on Earth: Antarctica Hit -128.6F
Antarctica holds the record for the coldest temperature ever measured on Earth. On July 21, 1983, Soviet researchers at Vostok Station recorded a jaw dropping minus 128.6F (minus 89.2C). At that temperature, steel shatters like glass and a cup of boiling water thrown into the air freezes before it hits the ground.
Cold Enough to Freeze Carbon Dioxide
The temperatures at Vostok Station regularly drop below minus 109.3F, which is the freezing point of carbon dioxide. This means CO2 literally falls out of the atmosphere as dry ice crystals. Earth has a place so cold that the air itself starts to solidify. Scientists working at the station describe hearing a strange crackling sound as moisture in their breath instantly crystallizes.
Why Vostok Station Gets So Unbelievably Cold
Vostok sits at 11,444 feet elevation on the East Antarctic Plateau, far from any ocean that could moderate temperatures. During winter, the sun never rises for months. The high altitude, bone dry air, and complete darkness create a perfect recipe for extreme cold. The ice sheet below the station stretches over 2.3 miles thick, reflecting what little heat might otherwise warm the surface.
Satellites Found Somewhere Even Colder
In 2010, NASA satellites detected temperatures as low as minus 136F on ridges near the East Antarctic Plateau. These readings came from shallow snow pockets where cold air settles on clear, calm winter nights. Scientists debate whether these surface temperatures count as official records since no weather station measured them directly.
What Extreme Cold Does to Everything
At minus 128F, exposed human skin freezes in seconds. Rubber becomes brittle and snaps. Fuel turns to gel. Researchers at Vostok must keep vehicles running constantly because engines that shut off may never restart. Even breathing becomes dangerous as the frigid air can damage lung tissue.
The Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth
While Antarctica holds the absolute record, the coldest permanently inhabited place is Oymyakon, Russia. About 500 people endure winter temperatures reaching minus 96.16F. Residents leave car engines running all day, bury water pipes deep underground, and use outhouses because indoor plumbing freezes solid.
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Historical Analysis
⚡Historical Significance
- •
Vostok Station was established by the Soviet Union in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year
- •
The 1983 temperature record stood as the coldest for over 30 years until satellite readings challenged it
- •
Antarctic exploration and research stations revolutionized our understanding of extreme climate
- •
Ice core drilling at Vostok provided 400,000 years of climate data trapped in ancient ice layers
📝Critical Reception
- •
NASA satellite data from 2010 sparked debate about how to define official temperature records
- •
Scientists continue studying how extreme cold affects atmospheric chemistry and CO2 behavior
- •
Research at Vostok helped confirm the relationship between CO2 levels and global temperature changes
- •
The discovery of Lake Vostok beneath the ice opened new fields of research into isolated ecosystems
🌍Cultural Impact
- •
Vostok Station became a symbol of human endurance in the most extreme environments on Earth
- •
The coldest place record captures public imagination and frequently appears in educational content
- •
Antarctic research stations demonstrate international scientific cooperation in harsh conditions
- •
Extreme cold records highlight the dramatic range of temperatures found on our planet
Before & After
📅Before
Before the 1983 measurement, scientists suspected Antarctica held extreme cold records but lacked precise data from the interior plateau. Early expeditions could not maintain instruments in such harsh conditions.
🚀After
The Vostok record transformed our understanding of Earth's temperature extremes and led to expanded Antarctic research programs. Ice core discoveries at the station provided irreplaceable climate data spanning hundreds of thousands of years.
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Did You Know?
•
Boiling water thrown into minus 128F air freezes completely before hitting the ground
•
Vostok Station gets so cold that carbon dioxide freezes out of the atmosphere as dry ice
•
Lake Vostok sits sealed beneath 2.3 miles of ice and has been isolated for 15 million years
•
Schools in Oymyakon, Russia only close when temperatures drop below minus 61F
•
Antarctica contains 70% of all fresh water on Earth locked inside its ice sheets
•
Steel becomes brittle and can shatter like glass at the temperatures recorded at Vostok Station
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Why It Still Matters Today
•
Antarctic ice cores from Vostok provide crucial data for understanding current climate change
•
Studying extreme cold environments helps scientists model conditions on other planets
•
Lake Vostok research informs the search for life in extreme environments elsewhere in the solar system
•
Temperature monitoring at remote stations tracks changes in global climate patterns
•
Understanding extreme cold helps engineers design equipment for polar and space exploration
🧠
Test Your Knowledge
How much do you know? Take this quick quiz to find out!
1. What is the coldest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth?
2. What happens to carbon dioxide at Vostok Station temperatures?
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Original Insights
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At minus 128F, the crackling sound researchers hear is their own breath crystallizing instantly
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Vostok Station sits above a freshwater lake sealed under ice for 15 million years that may contain unknown organisms
•
The East Antarctic Plateau is technically a desert receiving less precipitation than the Sahara
•
Vehicles at Vostok must run continuously because engines that shut off may never restart in extreme cold
•
The temperature difference between the hottest and coldest recorded places on Earth spans over 263 degrees Fahrenheit
Frequently Asked Questions
Vostok Station in East Antarctica holds the official record at minus 128.6F (minus 89.2C), recorded on July 21, 1983. NASA satellites detected even colder surface temperatures of minus 136F nearby, though these are not officially recognized weather station readings.
This article is reviewed by the Pagefacts team.
Editorial Approach:
This article explores why Vostok Station holds the record for the coldest temperature on Earth, revealing how CO2 freezes out of the air, what extreme cold does to materials and humans, and how a hidden lake beneath the ice may contain life forms isolated for millions of years.
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