Articles tagged with Arctic Ice
In the Arctic's Chukchi Sea, ocean currents accelerate the sinking of carbon-carrying phytoplankton, with blooms under sea ice up to 10 times denser than in open water. This phenomenon helps explain the formation of benthic biomass and supports marine life in the region.
A new study reveals that collisions between individual pieces of Arctic sea ice provide a simple explanation for its movement, which could help scientists predict its transport as the Arctic warms. The study's framework may also be applied to other systems involving many objects colliding in unpredictable environments.
The Arctic Report Card will continue under its independent editorial team with new support from the American Geophysical Union, ensuring a scientifically rigorous product. The report's release is planned for AGU's Annual Meeting in San Francisco, with the full 2026 report to be hosted permanently online.
A new study reveals that human emissions cuts have affected Greenland ice, with sulfate and nitrate levels changing after 1990. The study, which analyzed a 79-meter ice core, found that pollution controls reduced emissions in North America and Europe, but their effects on the ice core impurities diverged after 1990.
The Arctic melt season has extended by seven and a half days since 1979, driven by sea ice forming later in the fall, with implications for the global climate system. The changing sea ice properties also impact the ecosystem, including the health of algae, which affects the entire food web and fisheries in the sub-Arctic and Arctic.
Arctic cyclone clusters significantly impact sea ice cover, causing it to break up and reducing its extent. The storms also drive ice floes northwards, leading to a thinner and less resilient ice sheet.
A study reveals that the Arctic Ocean's chemical makeup is disrupting its food chain due to a sharp decline in nitrate levels, vital for plankton growth. The nutrient's removal limits life support for the ecosystem, with far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and carbon storage.
The Arctic winter sea-ice extent reached a new record low in 2026, following the previous record low in March 2025. Temperatures in the Sea of Okhotsk and Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea region remained higher than average, limiting the southward expansion of sea ice.
Researchers from Colorado State University found that tiny particles bubbling up from melting sea ice in the Arctic sky can create clouds, providing a platform for water vapor to freeze onto. This discovery sheds light on why Arctic clouds behave differently and could help improve weather modeling and climate change predictions.
A team of researchers has created a map of 33 subglacial lakes in the Canadian Arctic, revealing unprecedented detail about these bodies of water. The discovery helps scientists better understand the rapidly melting region and its implications for glacier loss and climate change.
A new study forecasts disruptive Siberian-Arctic heatwaves up to one month in advance by monitoring Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion and Kara Sea ice loss. The model correctly predicted six out of seven major SAH events since 1979.
A new study reveals that protecting polar bear habitat naturally safeguards the resources they rely on to survive, providing critical benefits to the ecosystem. By analyzing tracking data from 355 bears, researchers identified a high-use area near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, highlighting it as a prime location for a Marine Protected Area.
Researchers identified two types of extreme warm events: warm-wet and warm-dry, with distinct underlying weather patterns and physical mechanisms. Warm-wet events are more frequent, driven by a dipole pressure pattern that traps heat and leads to warming and precipitation.
The Arctic is experiencing a rise in human-generated underwater noise due to melting ice and increased activity, disrupting wildlife and local communities. A new study from the University of Bath provides a clear framework for monitoring noise in Arctic waters, urging authorities to revise thresholds used to assess noise levels.
A new study reveals that polar bears act as crucial providers for Arctic species, leaving behind millions of kilograms of prey annually. This carrion provides a vital energy source for a wide network of arctic scavenger species, including Arctic foxes and ravens.
A new study reveals that the Arctic climate system is experiencing a 'pushing and triggering' mechanism, leading to an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves, sea ice loss, and ice sheet melt. The probability of these events has increased by 20-83% since 2000, with severe consequences for the region's future.
A new international study reveals that nitrogen fixation occurs beneath Arctic sea ice, increasing available nitrogen for algae and potentially boosting marine life. This discovery could also impact carbon absorption in the Arctic Ocean.
In a new study, researchers from Umeå University found that ice at minus ten degrees Celsius releases more iron from common minerals than liquid water at four degrees Celsius. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles increase dissolution, releasing organic compounds and fuelling further chemical reactions.
Researchers discovered that Arctic diatoms can move and glide through ice at temperatures as low as -15 C, using a unique mucilage rope mechanism. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of adaptation to a changing polar environment and potential roles in the food chain.
The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II research program has led to a cross-disciplinary study on sustainable development in the Arctic for Indigenous peoples. The goal is to improve health, well-being, and security of Arctic communities while conserving ecosystem structures and resources.
Researchers discovered an 85m-deep crater and 90 million cubic metres of water flooded out of a subglacial lake, fracturing the ice above and creating a massive flood. The study highlights the need to better understand how often subglacial lakes drain and their impact on the surrounding ice sheet.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that climate models significantly overestimate the fraction of ice in wintertime Arctic clouds, leading to skewed warming predictions. This error has significant implications for current and future global warming projections.
Scientists from the University of Groningen have developed a method to predict the Time of Emergence (ToE) for Arctic climate change, based on warming, wetting, and sea ice melting. ToE is defined as the time when climate variable values exceed 97.5% of historical values for ten consecutive years.
A study found that Arctic snow and ice melting triggers an enhancement in the cloud short-wave cooling effect, partially slowing further melting. This new perspective reveals a co-evolution mechanism between clouds, snow/ice coverage, and surface albedo.
Scientists uncovered a rare thunderstorm near the North Pole, which came within 44 kilometers of the pole. The storm formed during an Arctic warming event and began at an altitude of 1.5 kilometers above the surface.
Researchers warn that thinner Arctic sea ice may lead to a tipping point in the AMOC, weakening global ocean circulation and impacting climate in Scandinavia. The Beaufort Gyre, an important feature of the Arctic Ocean, is currently losing large amounts of sea ice due to warmer temperatures.
The Office of Naval Research partnered with USIABP and ICE-PPR to deploy over 126 buoys across the Arctic Ocean, providing critical meteorological and oceanographic data. The deployments support U.S. naval operations and warfighting readiness in the region.
A new study reveals that Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California, especially in winter, and wetter conditions over Spain and Portugal. The research isolates the effect of Arctic sea ice melting from other climate change factors.
A single storm delivered over 16 billion tons of snow to Greenland, offsetting the sheet's annual ice loss and delaying summer melt. The study found that under right conditions, atmospheric rivers might not be all bad news for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
The 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) aims to study the Arctic and work towards climate solutions. Research emphasizes science diplomacy and international cooperation to address the climate emergency.
New research reveals that ice algae can store phosphorus, enabling them to colonize larger areas of the ice sheet. This could lead to faster melting as darkened ice loses its reflectivity.
A new study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment finds that Arctic cyclones may contribute to the underpredicted decline of sea ice extent. The research suggests two theories: turbulent seas breaking up larger ice floes and upwelling increasing temperatures that help melt younger, thinner ice.
The FAU-designed autonomous observation platform system offers a comprehensive approach to studying the Arctic environment and monitoring the impact of melting sea ice. The system integrates with the environment it monitors, providing new data on Arctic Sea ice melt beyond what satellites and manned ships can provide.
Researchers found significant increases in crevasses at fast-flowing glaciers, with some sectors experiencing a 25% increase. This accelerated crevassing could further speed up the mechanisms behind the loss of ice from Greenland.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have discovered a unique mix of lipids in polar bear fur that drastically reduces ice adhesion, paving the way for safer and more sustainable anti-freezing solutions. The study found that specific lipids, such as cholesterol and diacylglycerols, exhibit low adsorption energies on ice.
A study by University of Toronto researchers links polar bear population decline to extended energy deficits caused by a lack of food on dwindling sea ice. The model, tracking the bears' energy balance, shows reduced reproduction and cub survival rates due to shorter hunting seasons.
A recent University of Washington study found that a slower increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels has less impact on the Atlantic Ocean's circulation. The research, published in PNAS, suggests that this slowdown allows the ocean system more time to adapt to rising CO2 levels and mitigates its effects.
Research finds that aerosols from Canadian wildfires of summer 2023 contributed to the formation of ice clouds over the Arctic. Aerosol particles were transported via atmospheric rivers and contributed to ice cloud formation at temperatures warmer than usual.
A team of researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute analyzed aerial survey data showing a marked decrease in Arctic pressure ridges north of Greenland and in Fram Strait, declining by 12.2% per decade. The study found that the frequency and height of pressure ridges are decreasing due to the dramatic melting of older ice.
Early online research reveals associations between snowmelt timing, wildfires in Alaska, and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. The impact of climate patterns on extreme weather events is a growing concern.
The seventh International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR-7) addressed Arctic changes' impacts on residents and the global community. The symposium featured diverse presentations covering atmospheric sciences, terrestrial science, and humanities, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research to achieve sustainable development.
Under-ice species in the Arctic are facing significant threats as sea ice melts at a faster rate than anywhere else on Earth. Researchers studying microbial organisms in four environments found that the under-ice mix of species was the least diverse, composed mainly of specialist plankton and microbes adapted to harsh conditions.
A new study by Nagoya University researchers reveals a complex relationship between Arctic warming and Arctic dust. Higher temperatures lead to increased dust emissions, promoting ice nucleation in clouds and potentially counteracting temperature feedback mechanisms.
A recent study suggests that enhanced Arctic sea-ice melting during the Last Interglacial period led to significant cooling in northern Europe. The researchers used sediment cores and geochemical tracers to reconstruct past ocean conditions, highlighting the importance of feedback mechanisms in the climate system.
A new study suggests that a slowing Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could reduce projected Arctic warming by 2 degrees Celsius. However, this slowdown may also cause other climate disruptions, such as changes in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and sea level rise.
Researchers found lacerations, hair loss, and skin ulcerations affecting polar bears' feet, as well as other parts of their body. The study suggests climate warming is causing ice buildup and injuries due to freeze-thaw cycles, wet snow, and thin sea ice.
Researchers at York University have developed a novel technique to measure gaseous fluorine, revealing that up to 99% of airborne PFAS are unaccounted for. This discovery highlights the need for further research into the sources and environmental implications of PFAS, which can contribute to climate change.
Researchers have discovered large underwater ice formations at the edge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, revealing an unanticipated mechanism for submarine permafrost ice formation. The newly formed ice is created by melting ancient permafrost and refreezing as brackish groundwater approaches the seafloor.
A Dartmouth-led study found that air pollution from fossil fuels reaches the remote Arctic, altering its fundamental atmospheric chemistry. The researchers detected declines in methanesulfonic acid, a biomarker linked to phytoplankton productivity, which plummeted in environments high in emissions.
A new study from York University finds that lake ice quality is deteriorating due to climate change, making it unstable and unsafe for humans. The researchers warn of the dangers of thin layers of black ice and white ice combinations, which can lead to accidents and even fatalities.
A recent study found that extreme melting episodes in Greenland have doubled in frequency since the 1950s, with significant consequences for the global climate. The increased risk of large ice blocks breaking off into the ocean is linked to global warming and is expected to continue, with potential impacts on Europe's climate.
A new mathematical theory offers insights into how heat travels through sea ice, which affects global climate predictions. The study provides a way to relate sea ice's thermal properties to its temperature and salt content, allowing for more accurate climate models.
A new study led by Dartmouth researchers questions the rapid polar ice collapse model used in the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The team found that the expected rate of retreat is significantly lower than predicted, making the worst-case scenario less likely, but still dire due to ongoing ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica.
A recent analysis found that thick sea ice flowing south from the Arctic Ocean has shortened the shipping season in several parts of the Northwest Passage between 2007 and 2021. This means the region is unlikely to become a viable alternative to traditional shipping routes despite hopes fueled by global warming.
A new study establishes official climate divisions in Hawaii, improving climate research and forecasting. Chronic pain sufferers who spend time outdoors experience stronger weather-based effects, while lightning-initiated wildfires are responsible for more than half the acres burned in the contiguous United States.
A new study suggests the Arctic could see its first ice-free day as early as the 2020s or 2030s, with an entire month without floating ice during September by mid-century. This would significantly impact Arctic animals and coastal communities, highlighting the need for low emissions to avoid prolonged ice-free conditions.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that the Arctic Ocean's declining sea ice cover has complex effects on marine ecosystems and ocean productivity. Despite increased sunlight availability, primary production on the seafloor has not seen a corresponding increase, suggesting water transparency may b...
Scientists have improved estimating Arctic sea ice thickness by assimilating satellite-based summer data. The new approach achieves stronger correlations with independent SIT observations, particularly in areas with strong deformation.
A new study led by Brown University researchers provides unprecedented insights into the forces influencing Arctic sea ice motion. The analysis reveals how local tidal currents affect sea ice movement and highlights the crucial role of the seafloor in causing abrupt changes.
A subpolar Atlantic plankton species was found in the central Arctic Ocean during the Last Interglacial period, indicating summers were ice-free. This discovery has implications for understanding Arctic climate dynamics without sea ice.