The “Arctic Paradox” was coined during recent winters when speculations arose that the dramatic changes in the Arctic may be linked to severe snowstorms and cold temperatures in mid-latitudes, particularly along the U.S. east coast and in Europe. Recent studies have illuminated these linkages. Evidence is presented for a physical mechanism connecting Arctic Amplification —…
Jennifer Francis, Rutgers University – assesses the broad topic of the Arctic Sea Ice Decline and explains seasonal impacts. Observations, especially since the 1950’s, explain how the “Arctic Amplification” leads to rapid sea ice changes during the summer month. Much more ridging in North America during the winter. And this affects weather patterns, because a…
By FishOutOfWater / DailyKos: 500mb heights Normal for May 21 to June 6; 1980-2010 Average 500mb heights for May 21 to June 6 2013 A sudden stratospheric warming split the polar vortex in two in mid-January. Since then, the northern hemisphere’s atmospheric circulation has been behaving very strangely. An area of extreme high pressure formed…
Independent videographer Peter Sinclair for The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media explains what expert scientists now find to be the lowest extent of Arctic sea ice in recorded history.
Daniel Halper / Weekly Standard: Apologizes for America’s lack of action on “climate change.” Speaking today in Stockholm, Sweden, John Kerry called “climate change” a “life and death” issue. And the secretary of state apologized on behalf of the United States for not doing enough to fight “climate change.” “I also want to say that…
On November 12, 2012 The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Earth Institute, Columbia University and Quebec Government Office presented an exciting discussion about the effects of climate change on the Arctic. Experts highlighted how Arctic sea ice, climate, marine mammals, tundra, and indigenous communities have been affected by and are adapting to climate change. In addition, each…
Changes in Arctic sea ice coverage are happening at unprecedented rates, with 2012 setting a new record low for sea ice extent. Our ability to predict changes of sea ice loss and understand the impacts on society, from commercial shipping to resource availability, will be driven by further scientific research in the region. Areas for…
By Michelle Wheeler, The West Australian: In a room at the White House next week, an extraordinary meeting of the brightest minds will attempt to form a strategy to curb climate change’s crippling effects on the Arctic. Amid fears the top of the planet could be free of summer ice within two years, the meeting has…
BBC: The Arctic seas are being made rapidly more acidic by carbon-dioxide emissions, according to a new report. Scientists from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) monitored widespread changes in ocean chemistry in the region. They say even if CO2 emissions stopped now, it would take tens of thousands of years for Arctic Ocean chemistry to…
Follow National Geographic photographer James Balog across the Arctic as he deploys time-lapse cameras designed for one purpose: to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. Visit IMDB for more film details. Donate to the project chasingice.com Update The old movie version is no longer available, updated the video URL to a…
Dr. Jennifer Francis – Rutgers University “Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity all around the northern hemisphere.” Concurrently, Arctic sea ice is in an accelerating decline, the entire surface of Greenland melted for the first time in at least 150 years, glaciers are disappearing around the world, and snow cover on Arctic…
Snow, Water, Ice, Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) http://amap.no/swipa/
Snow, Water, Ice, Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) http://amap.no/swipa/ 2011 SWIPA — A Changing Environment + SWIPA — The New Arctic Reality https://climateforce.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/swipa-a-changing-environment
By Dr Nafeez Ahmed / via Guardian. National security officials worried by rapid loss of Arctic summer sea ice overlook threat of permanent global food shortages. Senior US government officials are to be briefed at the White House this week on the danger of an ice-free Arctic in the summer within two years. The meeting is bringing together Nasa’s acting chief scientist, Gale…
The transpolar drift (purple arrows) is a dominant circulation feature in the Arctic Ocean that carries freshwater runoff (red arrows) from rivers in Russia across the North Pole and south towards Greenland. Under changing atmospheric conditions, emergent circulation patterns (blue arrows) drive freshwater runoff east towards Canada, resulting in freshening of Arctic water in the…