A video taken by researchers at China's research base Zhongshan Station in Antarctica shows that the station saw a rare rainy day early this month.

"It is December 4, 2023, at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. The temperature [outside] is 3.6 degrees Celsius and it is drizzling outside. Weather like this is very rare to see [in Antarctica]," said Wang Caijun, a member of the research team at Zhongshan Station.

The rain lasted for less than two hours. The Zhongshan station has only recorded seven rainfalls since it was founded in 1989.

Ding Minghu, director of the Institute of Global Change and Polar Research of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, said the rain may have impacts on creatures in Antarctica. 

"The recent rainfall not only occurred at Zhongshan Station. According to our observation, the freezing rain was also seen at Australia's Davis research station. The ground temperature in Antarctica is low, so [when the rain falls] on the ground, it will become ice. As the baby penguins' feathers are not waterproof, if the rain falls on them, it may lead to frostbite to the baby penguins," said Ding.

(Cover image via CFP)