The Norwegian Meteorological institute is following the drift ice development in the arctic since 30 years now, and similar institutions in other arctic nations do the same with similar results: there has never been less ice than there is now. Even in September 2007, the minimum year so far, there was more ice than now. There are about 3 million square kilometres ice less than in 1979, an area 8 times larger than Norway (without Spitsbergen).
It is not only the area that is lost, but also the change in quality that makes experts worry. In the past, arctic sea ice used to be largely of large, strong, thick floes multi-year ice. These have largely disappeared. Now, most of the ice consists of much thinner one-year ice, which does not compare to the stronger, older ice in thickness, stability and as a habitat for the arctic ecosystem.
The drift ice is currently far north from any coast in the Spitsbergen archipelago, but the ice loss is far more dramatic on the other side of the arctic, north of western arctic Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
Ice in Hinlopen Strait, mid July 2005. This year, the area is completely ice free.
By the way, my new book is in print and it can now be ordered 🙂 it is a photo book with the title “Norwegens arktischer Norden (3): Die Bäreninsel und Jan Mayen”, with German text Click here for further details!
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.