Extreme Heat in Svalbard Causes Unprecedented Melting of Arctic Ice Caps This post first appeared on the NASA Earth Observatory website. The Svalbard archipelago’s ice caps suffered extreme episodes of melting in summer 2024, brought on by exceptionally high air temperatures. Related: Winter 2023/24 Was the Hottest Ever Recorded for the U.S. Situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is one of the fastest-warming places on the planet. Over […] Guest Author | August 15, 2024 0 Comments
NASA: The Arctic is Getting Rainier The Arctic is known for its cold temperatures, which allow precipitation to fall as snow. But as temperatures warm, that snow is being replaced by rain. These changes can affect sea ice in the Arctic and weather patterns throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Related: NASA: Record Summer Melting Across Svalbard, Arctic Circle NASA scientists examined rainfall trends over the Arctic and […] SnowBrains | March 19, 2024 0 Comments
9 Amazing Facts About Polar Bears Polar bears aren’t just ordinary big white bears (they’re actually not white at all…), they’re highly specialized for life in the harshest environments. Here are nine amazing facts about polar bears. 1. They’re thought to have evolved from brown bears that became isolated due to glaciation in the eastern part of Siberia. The latest research has the two species diverging genetically around […] Brains Mike Lavery | October 30, 2023 1 Comment
Study Shows Refreezing the Poles is Highly Practical and Could Reverse Global Warming The north and south poles are critical to the planet’s climate. The mass amount of ice in both regions acts as the earth’s refrigerators to cool it. It is no secret that the ice is diminishing and threatening our planet. Some experts estimate that the Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet. This […] Weather Brent Thomas | September 18, 2022 3 Comments
Scientists Have Discovered a Unique Sub-Species of Polar Bear That Has Adapted to a Warming Planet Scientists have discovered that glaciers in Southeast Greenland are harboring a previously unknown subpopulation of polar bears. The bears, which are uniquely adapted to their environment, could provide insight into the future of the species in a warming Arctic. Related: 9 Amazing Facts About Polar Bears Most polar bears rely on Arctic sea ice as a platform for hunting seals, […] SnowBrains | June 17, 2022 0 Comments
Join Ice Axe Expeditions in 2022 For Skiing and Sailing Deep Within the Arctic Circle Join Ice Axe Expeditions on this intimate and exciting backcountry ski expedition to just 600 miles south of the geographic North Pole. Spend your days exploring untouched terrain on the remote and beautiful Svalbard. Experience the breathtaking scenery and wildlife that draws enthusiasts from around the globe, while skiing virtually untracked landscapes that remain the world’s best secret. Related: Svalbard Trip Report 2018 […] SnowBrains | February 9, 2022 1 Comment
NOAA: Conditions in Northern Latitudes are Becoming More Favorable for Intense Burning and Fire Growth This article was originally published by Tom Di Liberto on Climate.gov on December 8, 2020 In the 2020 issue of NOAA’s Arctic Report Card, experts reported on the evolving wildfire landscape across the taiga—the boggy, coniferous forests that occupy much of the high northern latitudes. Rising air temperature and fuel availability over the past 41 years indicate that conditions in Earth’s largest […] Fire Firebrains | June 17, 2021 0 Comments
Arctic Sea Ice Decline Impacts California Based on satellite imagery, the Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent for the year in March. According to the National Snow & Ice Data Center, this year’s maximum of 5.65 million square miles was the 9th lowest since reporting began 43 years ago. This number is 305,000 square miles below the 1981-2010 average. While the Arctic sea ice has […] Weather Miles Wong | April 22, 2021 1 Comment
Brains
Weather
Fire
