Background Articles

A new report by the World Meteorological Organization declares 2024 as the warmest year in 175 years, driven by human-caused CO2 emissions. The unprecedented warmth is raising sea levels faster and endangering millions along coastlines, especially in Arctic regions like Svalbard.

Rising Arctic temperatures are causing centuries-old graves on Svalbard to deteriorate, with collapsing coffins exposing skeletal remains to the elements.

Rainy sloppy conditions in Trondheim underscored the importance of the climate work. But the warm wet weather barely dampened the enthusiasm of the Norwegian crowd.

Bethel and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta experienced one of the mildest winters on record, with Bethel marking its sixth warmest winter in 101 years amid unusually low snowpack.

Warm Atlantic waters are rapidly reshaping the Siberian Arctic, sparking an era of unprecedented sea ice loss—something that will have ongoing implications for the region’s ecosystem and climate, says new research.

A mass marine heat wave, known as 'the Blob', decimated the food supply for common murres, leading to an estimated 4 million bird deaths, according to biologist Heather Renner.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute reports that Finland’s average temperature in the first quarter of the 21st century was 1.4°C higher than during 1975–1999, with January in the south and central regions being unusually mild.

Long-term data from eight coastal stations over the past 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal waters have warmed by up to 2°C, impacting local fisheries and marine life.

Data collected over 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal water temperatures have increased by up to 2°C, a shift that is impacting marine ecosystems and local fishing practices.

The article explores how climate change has influenced sled dog genetics, leading to a shift from traditional, thick-coated breeds to leaner, faster dogs better suited for warmer conditions, impacting the tradition of dog mushing in Alaska.

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.

An unusually warm January storm with record warmth and hurricane-force winds left Anchorage residents facing extended power outages for four days.

Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in the Arctic, posing a threat to its fragile ecosystems, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.

Despite the fourth snowiest October on record, roughly half of precipitation in Anchorage has been rain this winter.

January in Finland showcased extreme contrasts with Lapland recording frigid temperatures, including a low of -38.9°C, while southern regions experienced unseasonably mild conditions with a peak of 9.5°C driven by föhn winds.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute reported that 2024 was an exceptionally warm year in Finland, with the average temperature notably above normal, particularly in Northern Lapland.

Despite a dry December, Alaska experienced an unusually wet year, with higher-than-normal precipitation mainly occurring in the summer months, according to climatologist Brian Brettschneider.

In 2024, Finland experienced an unusually warm year with an average temperature of 4.0°C, 1.1°C above the long-term average. Northern Lapland saw the highest deviations at 1.7°C above the average.

The 4 million deaths of common murres during the intense marine heatwave was the biggest wildlife toll in modern history, the study says

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.