Why does the temperature at Palmer Station differ from that of the south pole?

Answer 1

Palmer, like most of the Antarctic stations is on the coast where it is affected by the ocean. The sea gets nowhere near as cold as the land does. In winter, the sea ice develops and the coastline moves well away so it gets cold but it still does not get as cold as the south pole.

One other thing to consider is the katabatic wind rolling off the plateau. The air is descending from the south pole, at nearly 3000m, to the coast at sea level. Descending air is compressed and warms so the katatabatic is warmer on the coast than it was on the plateau.

Answer 2

It's many many miles from the south pole. Palmer is at 64 degrees southern latitude; the south pole is at 90.