Background Articles

A recent report highlights the unprecedented low snowfall during the 2024-2025 winter in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, affecting not only the weather but also events like the Iditarod race.

April was 1–2 °C warmer than the 1991–2020 average in Finland, with a high of 22.9 °C in Rauma and a low of –23.8 °C in Kilpisjärvi. Sunshine was above average, while southern areas and Lapland saw increased rainfall.

An OU scientist explains how powerful Arctic cyclones are breaking up thin sea ice in rapid bursts, a phenomenon that challenges existing climate models.

Winter temperatures in Russia have risen by an average of 3°C over the past 50 years, with Moscow recording a remarkable 3.5°C that broke a century-old record.

University of Calgary researchers have identified a 'structured continuum emission' or white patch within the northern lights as a heat source, further complicating the understanding of auroras.

Alaska is experiencing an unusually low snowfall this winter, discussed by Rick Thoman, an Alaska Climate Specialist, who highlights broader climate trends such as warming and increased precipitation.

A new conservation initiative allows the Nuiqsut community and its Native corporation to oversee 1 million acres around Teshekpuk Lake to protect caribou habitat from oil drilling impacts.

The Arctic tundra, which historically acted as a carbon sink, is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs due to permafrost warming and increased wildfires, as reported in the NOAA 2024 Arctic Report Card.

A NOAA report reveals that Arctic tundra regions, including those in Alaska, have transitioned from carbon sinks to carbon sources due to warming permafrost and intensifying wildfires, exacerbating the greenhouse effect.

In Ruby, Alaska, Indigenous families face cultural and nutritional challenges as climate change and fisheries management impact the availability of chinook and chum salmon, central to their traditions.

Environment Canada identified key weather events in 2024, including the devastating Jasper wildfire and significant storms leading to floods and hail damage. These events resulted in mass evacuations and substantial economic losses across Canada.

A University of Alaska Fairbanks study links king salmon decline in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers to climate change impacts such as warming temperatures, which decrease salmon body size and breeding efficiency.

A recent study indicates that dust plays a significant role in the Arctic's climate changes, affecting how clouds form and their impact on the region's climate dynamics.

Russian warships from the Northern Fleet faced significant challenges from sea ice while navigating the Northern Sea Route, despite Russia's development of naval icebreakers.

A cold wave from Siberia and Finland is bringing frigid temperatures to Norway, with conditions falling to minus 25 degrees Celsius in some parts.

Thawing permafrost in the Arctic region is releasing significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen, posing environmental challenges due to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The aurora borealis has been visible in southern Canada due to peak solar activity, a phenomenon that might continue for several more years.

The Icelandic government released a report one year after a natural disaster led to the evacuation of Grindavík, detailing its response and future prevention strategies.

Alaska Airlines is promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mileage runs, though its effectiveness depends on production methods and it's not yet widely adopted or cost-competitive.

Survivors of the Maui fire in Lahaina say they were overwhelmed by the speed of the blaze, the smothering smoke and the lack of escape routes.