UN verifies lowest temperature in northern hemisphere

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Wednesday recognized a temperature of minus 69.6 Celsius (minus 93.3 F) on Dec. 22, 1991 as the lowest ever recorded in the northern hemisphere.

"The temperature record was uncovered after nearly 30 years by 'climate detectives' with the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes," the UN meteorological body said in a statement.

The temperature was recorded at an automatic weather station in Greenland, the statement added

"That ongoing investigation, following the lead of this evaluation, will also examine possible past occurrences of high temperatures north of the Arctic Circle," it noted.

On the new record, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said: "In the era of climate change, much attention focuses on new heat records. This newly recognized cold record is an important reminder about the stark contrasts that exist on this planet."