New Record for Coldest Place on Earth, in Antarctica
Scientists measure lowest temperature on Earth via satellites.
The temperature breaks the 30-year-old record of about -128.6°F (-89.2°C), measured by the Vostok weather station in a nearby location. (Related: "South Pole Expeditions Then and Now: How Does Their Food and Gear Compare?")
Although they announced the new record this week, the temperature record was set on August 10, 2010.
Researchers used data spanning 31 years from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) instruments on several U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites, as well as instruments on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites and on the Landsat 8 satellite.
The instruments measured the heat radiated from Antarctica's surface. (Related: "Antarctic's Mountains Revealed by Sharpest Map Yet.")
Antarctic regions are always cold, averaging a nippy -127°F (-83°C) and fluctuating
