The extreme weather in the north Atlantic has brought this sector of the Arctic again into international media. A strong low pressure is pumping warm air up north, resulting in unusually high temperatures in Svalbard and the central Arctic. In Longyearbyen, the mercury went up to almost 9°C, making it warmer than in parts of central Europe at the same time. Strong rainfall did not make it nicer, with up to 50 mm within two days in Ny Ålesund.
Warm air incursions in midwinter are a more or less regular phenomenon in the maritime climate of Svalbard, but the current event is quite strong.
The combination of mild temperatures and rain lets the snow melt and the rivers flow. In Longyearbyen, a little bridge locally known as Perleporten, a walkway across the river coming out of Vannledningsdalen, is currently closed by the authorities. Historically, meltwater avalanches coming out of Vannledningsdalen have been fatal on occasions. In June 1953, several buildings were damaged and three people died.
Now, several tributary rivers in Adventdalen are flooding the road, making traffic impossible. The public is asked to avoid any unnecessary traffic.
The river in Bolterdalen is usually frozen and dry in winter. Now it is flooding the road in Adventdalen after days of thawing temperature and rain.
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.