A study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, suggests that the Arctic is warming at a faster rate than the rest … read more
A study published in Nature Communications uses new climate models to look at Arctic precipitation projections. Dr Gavin Schmidt, … read more
It has been reported by the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, that Arctic sea ice has dropped below 4 … read more
A study in Nature Communications suggests that Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic. read more
The US-based National Snow and Ice Data Center has reported that Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its minimum extent for this year which would mean a tie for second lowest in the satellite record. read more
The National Snow and Ice Data Center has given a preliminary announcement of Arctic sea ice levels, saying that it reinforces “the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent read more
A paper published in the journal Nature Geosciences has explored the link between declining sea-ice in the Arctic, and colder Eurasian winters. Loss of sea-ice can disrupt patterns of air flow of different temperatures at high altitudes leading to changes in weather, but the researchers’ models predicted that these colder winters were unlikely to continue with further increases in global temperatures. read more
A study published in Nature Geoscience found the technology behind satellite observations of mass loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is currently unable to separate long-term trends from short-term natural variability. read more
Ice sheet loss from Greenland and the Antarctic will contribute to sea level rise. A new study published in Science combines multiple satellite data to estimate the mass balance of Earth’s polar ice sheets and its effect on sea level. read more
The NSIDC in Colorado reported that the Arctic sea ice extent was at its lowest level since satellite measurements began in 1979, breaking the previous record set on 18 September 2007. read more
Five leading UK scientists briefed journalists on the state of the world’s polar ice and how the landscape is really changing across Greenland, Arctic sea ice and the Antarctic. read more
Researchers from the Catlin Arctic Survey discussed an expedition to investigate surface ice in the Arctic sea and concerns that increased amounts of melting freshwater my unbalance the processes driving the Thermohaline Circulation (THC), an important natural phenomenon. read more
The European Space Agency’s CryoSat-2 mission is designed to accurately measure the shape and thickness of Arctic and Antarctic ice and will allow scientists to assess how melting polar ice affects ocean circulation patterns, sea level and global climate. Key scientists involved with the mission came to the SMC to talk about its key aims ahead of the launch. read more
The Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 is a scientific mission to assess how rising acidity is affecting the balance of life in the Arctic Ocean. Setting off in March 2010, it will involve nine weeks of extreme field work and long range expedition. Research teams from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche and the Institute of Ocean Science (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) will be joining a shoreline Ice Base to conduct their own ‘acid test’ programmes to improve understanding of the state of the Arctic Ocean itself and the impact of rising CO2 absorption on essential forms of marine life. read more
During the IMarEST ‘Arctic Workshop’ scientists took time out to brief journalists on the possible consequences of climate change for the artic region – the negative ecological consequences but also some economic advantages. Some strong positive outcomes for the fishing and sea transport industries as well as for oil and gas exploration arose from the discussion, all of which add further controversy to the issue of climate change. read more