Arctic News Archives - Environment

A collection of older (2003-2004) news items that relate to the environment of Arctic and surrounding regions. All links will take you to sites outside of the PRISM site. Use your back button to return.

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Environmental News - 2004

December 30, 2004 - Earth's Permafrost Starts to Squelch. - Tehran Times
Melting of permafrost is causing problems, not only in Alaska, but in other cold regions of the world.
December 20, 2004 - Arctic Hit Hard By Climate Change - CBS
The Arctic has seen an 8 percent loss of sea ice over the past 30 years and a 3-7 degree rise in temperatures over the past 50 years. This has contributed about 3 inches to global sea rise over the past twenty years.
December 17, 2004 - Russia's North Pole-33 Station Drifting At High Speed - Novosti
Russia's North Pole-33 Arctic research station has traveled more than 700 km over a 100 day period. Such ice-drift speeds are considered to be unusual.
December 15, 2004 - Arctic Ocean Was Once Downright Balmy - National Post (Canada)
Scientists from Oxford and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research have studied sediment cores from the Arctic Ocean and determined that 70 million years ago, things were much warmer there.
December 14, 2004 - Mysterious Northern Light Brightens Arctic Night - Edmonton Journal
Hunters in Resolute Bay say that the Arctic winter nights are not as dark as they were 6 years ago. They report a colored band of light extends along the horizon now, whereas it used to be almost totally dark.
December 13, 2004 - Pollution Hotspots - BBC
The Arctic has been designated as a pollution hotspot due to problems with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that threaten the health of humans and animals. POPs are probably carried from industrialized nations on wind currents.
December 1, 2004 - Melting Arctic Bogs May Hasten Warming... - National Geographic
A hotspot in western Siberia is home to the world's largest peat bog. If this peatland thaws and dries out due to the current warming trend, it would begin to release vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which could further accelerate global warming.
December 1, 2004 - Arctic Trip Upsets Old Idea of Starved Seabed - International Herald Tribune
Scientists, looking at an undersea ridge near the North Pole, say the sediments there are so biologically rich that the seabed may hold significant oil and gas deposits.
November 24, 2004 - Arctic States Agree To Vague Plan to Slow Thaw - ENN
Eight Arctic countries, including the United States, encouraged "effective measures" to adapt to climate change, but did not come to any agreements as to which measures to adopt. Environmentalists were not pleased with the vagueness of the policy document. (See similar story from Houston Chronicle.)
November 18, 2004 - Government Must Monitor Hydrocarbons Extraction In Arctic - Novosti
The director of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute says that permitting oil extraction at the Arctic shelf without a comprehensive ecosystem monitoring plan would be a crime.
November 18, 2004 - New Findings From Arctic Coring Expedition ... - Space Daily
Scientists from 10 countries met to analyze sediment cores from below the Arctic Ocean. These cores seem to indicate that the Arctic Ocean was frozen much earlier than previously thought. More results are expected in the next few months.
November 18, 2004 - Russian Energy Strategy Programme Calls For Tapping Arctic Shelf - Novosti
Russia is proposing to drill for oil and gas on the Arctic ice shelf saying it is absolutely necessary for Russia to meet its energy needs until 2020.
Nov. 12, 2004 - Arctic Thaw May Open Shipping Lanes, But ... - ABC - Australia
Though the thawing of the Arctic Ocean may result in a shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic, a trans-Arctic shipping boom is not expected due to high costs and numerous icebergs.
November 9, 2004 - Arctic To Melt In 100 Years: Third World To Be Worst Hit - Times of India
The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment study said human-induced changes in the earth's climate are affecting the Arctic region resulting in glacial melting. This will contribute to global sea-level rise. (Similar story from Detroit News.)
November 8, 2004 - Arctic Warming At Twice Global Rate - CNN
Global warming is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that threatens millions of livelihoods and could wipe out polar bears by 2100, an eight-nation report said. (Similar story from BBC)
November 4, 2004 - Iceland Volcano Affects Flights - UK Times Online
A volcano exploded from beneath Iceland's biggest glacier spewing ash and gas more seven miles into the air. It continues to steam, but has caused no injuries or evacuations. (Similar story by BBC).
October/November, 2004 - Arctic Denizens Feel The Heat - NWF
Climate change is adversely affecting wildlife and human communities, especially in the Arctic. For many changes in the sea ice are particularly devastating. The polar bear is already in trouble.
October 11, 2004 - Arctic Radiation Levels Declining - The State
Atomic radiation levels in the Arctic caused by above-ground nuclear testing and the Chernobyl disaster have fallen in much of the region, though the far north is still at risk. Aging nuclear materials on the Kola Peninsula in Russia are thought to pose a risk of more exposure.
October 7, 2004 - Arctic Ice Melting More Quickly - CBC
Sea ice coverage was 13.4 % below its average in September. This is the third year in a row with extreme ice loss. It isn't clear exactly what is driving this, but it might be global warming.
September 29, 2004 - Melting Glacier Erodes Greenland Tourism - Taipei Times
Ilulissat residents are quite concerned about the report that the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier had receded more than 5 km in the past two years. The community depends heavily on tourists who come to see the glacier calve into icebergs.
September 28, 2004 - Martian Features Share Arctic Namesakes - CBC
Several rocks and geographical features on Mars are named after places and bush pilots in the Arctic. These names may not be permanent but are used by scientists to refer to some of their discoveries.
September 27, 2004 - Alaska Scientists Find Arctic Tundra Yields Surprising Carbon Loss - SpaceDaily
Scientists did not find an expected link between plant growth and carbon-storage in tundra plants, but instead found that there was a big loss of carbon from the soil under simulated global warming conditions.
September 23, 2004 - Arctic Glacier Photos Worth A Thousand Words - SitNews
Photos of McCall Glacier in the Arctic National Wildlife Reguge show how far the glacier has receded between 1958 and 2003.
September 15, 2004 - Hudson Announces Largest Greenland Diamond Find... - CCN Matthews
A total of 120 diamonds greater than 106 microns have been recovered from a location in West Greenland. Many garnets have also been spotted in the area. Hudson thus has applied for a permit to acquire an additional 89 sq km in the Garnet Lake area.
September 7, 2004 - Subtropical Arctic - Space Daily
Scientists from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program's Arctic Coring Expedition (ACEX) have analyzed some fossils from their sediment cores and concluded that the North Pole once had a subtropical climate.
Sept. 3, 2004 - Global Warming Thaws Arctic, Divides Governments - Yahoo!
An international panel has established that the Arctic climate is warming rapidly now and even more rapid changes are expected and that human activities are partly responsible for this warming. But there is no agreement among countries which border the Arctic region on how it should be addressed.
August 31, 2004 - Ice Clarifies Climate's Secrets - USA Today
Pink ice, possible plant material and mud extracted from the bottom of the Greenland ice sheet at North GRIP are providing many new interesting insights into climate through the ages and possible life at the bottom of the ice sheet.
August 30, 2004 - Arctic Coring Expedition Retrieves First Arctic Core- Space Daily
An underwater mountain chain near the North Pole may hold clues to the climate 50 million years ago. Scientists have extracted a 40 million year old sediment core from the Arctic Ocean Ridge to unlock these secrets. (More on dangers faced by the drilling team from scotsman.com.
August 28, 2004 - Major Temperature Rise Recorded in Arctic - ABC
The Arctic Ocean has shown a major rise in temperature this year according to scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Science.
August 27, 2004 - Toxins Accumulate In Arctic Peoples, Animals - National Geographic
Studies of people and animals living in the Arctic have shown very high levels of chemical contaminants in their bodies. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from industrialized nations are infiltrating the food web.
August 25, 2004 - Arctic Ecosystem Under Threat - Washington Times
Increased oil and gas exploration and drilling as well as overfishing, nuclear waste and the invasion of non-native species is wreaking havoc in the Barents Sea area according to the United Nations Environmental Program. (See a map of Barents Sea. View map of wells in the area. Similar story by BBC.)
August 24, 2004 - Norway To Consider Boosting Arctic Activity, Oil Minister Says - Bloomberg
Norway is considering opening more of its waters to increased oil drilling and exploration.They recently reopened some of the Barents Sea for exploration and are under pressure from oil companies to increase drilling in the area.
August 17, 2004 - Scientists Hope To Unlock Secrets Of The Arctic - SwissInfo
A team of European researchers has embarked for the Arctic Ocean with the mission of better understanding climate change through a program of ocean drilling on the Lomonosov Ridge. (Map of the Ridge.)
August 16, 2004 - Seabed Samples Offer Glimpse To Arctic Past - CBC
Scientists in the Queen Maud Gulf are studying sediments from the seabed to help them better understand the marine ecosystem in the Arctic. (Map of Queen Maud Gulf.)
August 10, 2004 - Satellite-Observed Changes In the Arctic - Physics Today
Substantial changes have been seen in the surface temperature, permafrost, ice thickness and snow cover of the Arctic over the past decade. Many of these changes have been captured using satellite data. The analysis of these data show a compelling picture of warming throughout the Arctic.
August 8, 2004 - Extremely High Concentration of Carbon Dioxide - Novosti
Forest fires in Siberia may be the cause of extremely high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the ocean and atmosphere. Further study is planned.
August 1, 2004 - Possible Mt. Spurr Eruption Worries Geologists - ABC
Underground earthquake activity has increased near Alaska's Mt. Spurr triggering fears that an eruption may be near. (Follow the volcano activity live at the Alaska Volcano Observatory or Volcano World.)
July 28, 2004 - Greenland Ice-Melt Speeding Up - BBC
A scientist with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland reports that the edges of the Greenland ice sheet are melting 10 times more rapidly than had been indicated by previous research.
July 17, 2004 - Protecting The Arctic From Oilmen - International Herald Tribune
A plan has been announced to lease rights for oil and gas development in Teshekpuk Lake, an important breeding ground for many Arctic birds and subsistence area for the indigenous Inupiat who hunt and fish there. (Map of the area - The lake is near the yellow-colored Beaufort Sea Planning Area.)
July 15, 2004 - Another Record Minimum For Sea Ice Cover In Arctic Ocean? - NSIDC
Ice extent and concentration in the Arctic Ocean in June was much lower than typical this year than in past years, indicating that the annual minimum ice extent is likely to well below normal for the third year in a row.
July 3, 2004 - Canada Starts Seabed Mapping... - CBC
Canada has begun mapping the seabed in the Beaufort Sea, taking a step toward establishing sovereignty under international law. At stake is control of oil and gas reserves in the area.
June 6, 2004 - Methane "Belch" Theory Gets Boost - BBC
Discovery of gas vents in the Nordic Sea lend credence to the notion that a large release of methane 55 million years ago might have caused global warming in the Eocene period.
June 4, 2004 - Ancient Life On Cold-Water Corals - BBC
The UN Environment Programme reports that cold-water reefs are quite widespread and harbor many organisms thought to be long-extinct. These ancient reefs are spread from Greenland to the sub-Antarctic islands.
June 4, 2004 - Arctic Cores Offer Climate Clues - BBC
An international group is studying sediment cores taken from the Arctic sea bed to try to unravel how long Arctic sea ice has existed and how it had formed. Reports and images from this work will be online beginning in August at
http://www.rcom-bremen.de/English/IODP.html
June 3, 2004 - Man-Made Toxins Found In Arctic - CBS
Chemicals used in televisions, toys and fire retardants have been found in Arctic wildlife according to Norwegian scientists. This is a sign that these chemicals do not break down as quickly as had been thought. (Similar story from Yahoo)
May 31, 2004 - North Pole Pack Ice Dwindles - CBS
Researchers are probing the pack ice around the North Pole to try to determine the effects of the dwindling pack ice on the oceanic and atmospheric circulation and commerce.
May 25, 2004 - Fears Raised Over Fast Arctic Thaw - ABC/Reuters
The report of an eight-nation study indicates that global warming is hitting the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Climate change there is characterized as "dramatic." (Similar story at CBC North. Similar story at Independent.co.uk)
May 19, 2004 - Study to Examine How Climate Change Melts Permafrost Under Arctic Roads - Yahoo News
The federal and territorial governments will study how climate change will affect the infrastructure, such as roads and runways, in the Arctic regions. Pipeline development must be carefully planned if the permafrost continues to melt.
May 13, 2004 - Inuit 'Poisoned From Afar' By Climate Change - New Zealand Herald
The head of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference said that the Inuit are paying dearly for the actions of people in other countries. Toxins and rising temperatures are two of the challenges caused by pollution in the Arctic.
April 26, 2004 - New Ice Sheet Research Indicates Possible Global Climate Change - Newswise (U of Missouri-Columbia)
Analysis of satellite data from 1978-2002 indicates that the upper elevations of the Greenland ice sheet are thinning especially in the southeast and that this trend has been going on for several decades.
April 26, 2004 - Arctic Ozone Loss More Sensitive... - Science Daily
NASA scientists have quantified a previously unknown link between Arctic ozone loss and changes in stratospheric temperatures.The sensitivity of ozone to temperature was significantly higher than had been predicted by atmospheric chemistry models.
April 25, 2004 - Fallout From Melting Arctic Sea Ice ... - Anchorage Daily News
Loss of Arctic sea ice may cause massive winter storms in Alaska according to a new climate study, while while causing western states in the US to experience a significant drought.
April 23, 2004 - NASA Arctic Sea Ice Study May Stir Up Climate Models - Science Daily
It has just recently been determined, by analyzing synthetic aperture radar data from the RADARSAT satellite, that Arctic sea ice undergoes small oscillations twice a day, even in the winter. This may increase chances for new ice formation and should be factored into climate models according to the scientists.
April 21, 2004 - Arctic Carbon A Potential Wild Card In Climate Change Scenarios - Science Daily
It appears that most of the carbon in the Arctic Ocean is fairly young carbon brought by rivers, and thus is not likely to play a big part in affecting global climate.
April 16, 2004 - Satellites Record Weakening North Atlantic Current - Science Daily
Satellite records indicate that the North Atlantic Ocean circulation weakened considerably in the late 1990s when compared to levels in the 1970s and 1980s. This could herald dramatic changes in North Atlantic Ocean climate, but we won't know for another 5-10 years. (Abstract from Science magazine.)
April 8, 2004 - Pole "Flip" Takes 7000 Years - The Australian
Study of sediment cores seem to indicate that a reversal of the earth's magnetic field takes about 7000 years, though it occurs somewhat faster at the equator.
April 7, 2004 - Greenland's Ice Cap Under Threat - BBC
A recent glaciology study predicts an 8°C increase in Greenland's temperature by 2350. Such a change would melt the Greenland ice cap and cause average sea level to rise. (Similar story from Independent.com)
April 2, 2004 - Yukon Doubtful About Offshore ANWAR Drilling - North CBC
While the Alaskan governor favors oil drilling off the shores of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the members of the Yukon government are not so sure it is a good idea.
Mar. 24, 2004 - Russia Arctic Oil Facility To Ease Northern Export- Daily Times
A huge Russian oil tanker on the Barents Sea will begin operation as a storage facility this week. It is predicted this will make exports to Europe and the United States easier.
Mar. 17, 2004 - Alaska Oil Would Barely Help U.S. - Alexanders Gas & Oil Connections
An Energy Dept. analysis showed that opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development would only slightly reduce America's dependence on imports and lower the prices by less than 50 cents per barrel.
Mar. 11, 2004 - ...Study Sheds New Light On Climate Change Process - Science Daily
A new study shows that salinity levels in the Caribbean Sea are critical drivers of the deep-ocean circulation system in the North Atlantic.
Mar. 9, 2004 - Over the Top - SMH Australia
The melting of the Arctic ice cap may have a profound effect on global shipping, by opening the much sought Northeast Passage. If the ice cap continues to melt, this route could become as busy as the Suez Canal.
Mar. 8, 2004 - Will The World Just Chill Out - Space Daily
Global warming in the Arctic could plunge Western Europe and North America into a deep freeze in the next few decades.The thawing of sea ice could disturb the warming currents found in the North Atlantic. Satellite records of sea ice extent show a clear retreat of the sea ice over the past 25 years, a trend that appears to be accelerating.
Feb. 9, 2004 - Scientists Discover Ozone-Destroying Molecule - NASA - JPL
Analysis of data from a NASA aircraft flying over the Arctic has allowed observation of a molecule (chlorine monoxide dimer) that has been postulated to be important in the destruction of stratospheric ozone. Measurements of this molecule will help scientists better quantify ozone loss in this region.
Jan. 30, 2004 - Exxon's Alaska Spill Bill Climbs to $5.8bn - Australian
An Alaskan judge has ordered Exxon to pay $US4.5 billion ($Euro5.8) in punitive damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Exxon plans to appeal the decision.
Jan. 27, 2004 - Glaciers and Sea Ice Endangered By Rising Temperatures - ENN
In both 2002 and 2003, the Northern Hemisphere showed record low sea ice cover. A major glacier in Greenland is thinning four times faster than in the past. Similar losses of ice cover are being reported around the world.
Jan. 25, 2004 - Global Warming Could Plunge Britain Into New Ice Age... - NZ Herald
A significant change in the circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean, tied to global warming, could cause Britain to experience a much colder climate if it turns off the Gulf Stream, as it appears to be poised to do. This change could occur within our lifetime, according to scientists.
Jan. 16, 2004 - ...Origins of Peat Bogs Raises Concerns - Science Daily
Siberian peat bogs which are typically frozen appear to be huge repositories of carbon dioxide and thus play a major role in world climate balance. If these bogs thaw due to currently rising temperatures in the Arctic, there is concern that they may release this gas into the atmosphere causing major and unexpected shifts in climate. (Similar story from National Geographic; Another story from NSF).
Jan. 5, 2004 - Soot and Snow: A Hot Combination - Science a GoGo
Black soot on snow alters the snow reflectivity according to new NASA climate simulations. Soot deposits, particularly in the Arctic region may be playing an important role in climatic changes recently seen, such as thinning sea ice and melting glaciers and permafrost.

Environment - 2003

Dec 31, 2003 - Cross-Tundra Tour To Raise Global Warming Awareness - CBC North
An American-led dogsled team has begun a 5,000 km transect of the Arctic with the stated purpose of educating people about global warming. Students and other interested parties can follow their trek via their website.
Dec. 10, 2003 - ...Spring Thaw Makes A Difference - NASA
NASA scientists using a suite of microwave remote sensing instruments have observed a trend of earlier thawing across the northern latitudes. Spring thaw has advanced almost one day per year since 1988, lengthening the growing season. Increased vegetation and growing season allows plants to remove more harmful greenhouse gases.
Dec. 10, 2003 - ...Ocean Mapping Cruise to Arctic - NOAA
Scientists from NOAA, the University of New Hampshire and others have recently discovered and mapped a complex underwater mountain (seamount) while doing ice-breaking activities. They used multibeam sonar to accomplish the task. They also gathered evidence of ice age glaciation from the sea floor.
Dec. 9, 2003 - Major Greenland Glacier... Now Shrinking Dramatically - Ohio State University News
The Jakobshavn glacier in Greenland which had come to a halt in the early 1990s is now on the move again. This glacier is one of the major drainage outlets for the Greenland Ice Sheet. It shows signs of thinning (12 meters/year) as well as increasing speed (9 km/year).
Oct. 30, 2003 - Melting Ice At World's Rooftop Stirs Concern - Christian Science Monitor
Arctic ice cap shrinkage of about 10% per decade is causing great concern as scientists document changes in flora and fauna, sea ice and climate. The changes could impact shipping, food production, and climate across the globe. (Similar story from Spaceflight Now)
Oct. 24, 2003 - Arctic Clean-up Boost - New Zealand News
The US is providing $49.2 million to help with the UN-backed clean-up of the Russian Arctic. The area is contaminated mecury, oil, and nuclear waste from the Cold War years. (Longer article on this topic from BBC)
Oct. 23, 2003 - ...Evidence of Arctic Warming Grows - NASA
This article provides interesting animations and video and describes how scientists are trying to look at what's happening to polar ice, and more importantly why those changes are occuring.
Oct. 23, 2003 - Scientists Use Satellite to "Pond-er" Melted Arctic Ice - NASA
Satellite and aircraft video are being used as part of a new technique for locating "melt ponds" of water on Arctic sea ice. This new technique will help scientists better understand heat balance in the Arctic.
Oct. 7, 2003 - Research Shows Little Effect From Arctic Offshore Oil Drilling - Science Daily
A new study study shows that offshore oil drilling has had little negative impact on the Alaskan Arctic marine ecosystem over the past four years.
Oct. 4, 2003 - Ice Melting More Quickly In Arctic - China.org
Chinese scientists have discovered that the ice is melting at accelerating speed in the Arctic which may have implications for worldwide weather patterns.
Oct. 1, 2003 - New Chemicals in Arctic's Toxic Stew - MSNBC
Chemicals used in tv sets and computers and as stain removers and flame retardants have been showing up in polar bears, whales and birds, according the latest 5 year study. This adds to other toxins that have previously been found in these animals.
Oct. 1, 2003 - Rare Iceberg Sighted Off Tuktoyaktuk - CBC North
A large piece of ice has been sighted off the coast of the Northwest Territories in the Bering Sea. It is quite rare to see ice this large in this area.
Sept. 26, 2003 - Ice Cap Meltdown Warning - New Zealand Herald
The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf breakup has caused a New Zealand scientist to warn that the Arctic ice cap may be melted entirely in as few as 70 years.
Sept. 26, 2003 - Northern Climate, Ecosystems Driven By Cycles of Changing Sunlight - Science Daily
Evidence from Alaskan lake sediment reveals that slight variations in the sun's intensity have affected the climate and ecosystems of the North in a predictable fashion for the last 12,000 years.
Sept. 23, 2003 - Arctic ice Shelf Splits - BBC
The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf off Ellesmere Island, the largest Arctic ice shelf, has split allowing release of water from a fresh-water lake. This is further evidence of climate change in the Arctic.
Sept. 17, 2003 - Alaska Gas Debate Re-Opens In US Congress - CBC North
The White house appears to be moving away from insisting that Congress open the ANWAR to oil drilling.
Sept. 17, 2003 - Spawning Salmon Polluting Alaskan Lakes... - Bloomberg.com
Salmon migrating from the Pacific are carrying PCBs in their fat cells. These PCBs are probably the result of ocean pollution from coastal factories. The salmon then seem to be polluting the lakes to which they migrate with these cancer-causing chemicals.
Sept. 17, 2003 - Emerald Prospectors Stumble Onto Gold - CBC North
There has been a discovery of gold and silver in the Findlasen Lake area in the Yukon.
Sept. 1, 2003 - Shuttle Launch Creates Arctic Clouds - U.S. Air Force
Shuttle exhaust, 97% of which is water vapor, settles and forms into noctilucent clouds over the Arctic.
July 31, 2003 - ... Scientists Track Freshwater Flow from Arctic Into the Atlantic - Science Daily
Fresh water from ice melt and rivers in the Arctic is being studied by more than 35 scientists as the water moves into the Atlantic. This is being done to determine how this water affects ocean circulation and global climate.
July 29, 2003 - Scientists Plunge Into Arctic Lakes - CBC News
Canadian scientists are collecting water, algae and zooplankton from Lake Hazen, about 800 km from the North Pole, to get a better handle on climate change and its effects on Arctic lakes.
July 22, 2003 - Breaking Through Greenland's Ice Cap - Daily News
The North Greenland Ice Core Project hit bedrock after seven years of drilling.The ice was nearly 2 miles deep. PRISM was there for some of this work - view our Video Gallery to learn more.
July 22, 2003 - New Location of Deep Convection May Exist In North Atlantic - Science Daily
Mixing of ocean waters may actually occur in a location in the North Atlantic where it was tentatively identified about 100 years ago by explorer Fridtjof Nansen. This site is east of Greenland.
July 10, 2003 - Is The Arctic Ice Melting Forever? - Xplorersweb
Chinese scientists will be looking at how climatic change in the Arctic affects weather in China by establishing a base at Svalbard. More from China.org
July 9, 2003 - Baked Alaska: Record Heat Hits Anchorage - RedNova
A record high was set for July 8, breaking an 84 year old record.
June 26, 2003 - Behavior of Arctic Ocean Ridge Confounds Predictions... - Science Daily
An ocean ridge under the Arctic ice cap is volcanically active and has multiple hydrothermal vents. This discovery may lead to changes in the understanding of how ocean ridges work to produce the Earth's crust. (More from NSF)
June 26, 2003 - WWF Wants Pipeline Guarantees - CBC North
World Wildlife Fund leaders will not oppose a McKenzie Valley pipeline if the agreement contains protections for sensitive cultural and environmental areas.
June 19, 2003 - Mapping Ice Sheets In Greenland - Chinotague Beacon
Aerial surveys of the Greenland ice sheet may help scientists track and understand global climate change. PRISM scientists are involved with this project also!
June 18, 2003 - Hydrogen Fuel Could Widen Ozone Hole - Nature
Hydrogen fuel may not be as environmentally friendly as hoped. It appears that long-term use could increase damage to the ozone layer.
May 7, 2003 - Mapping the Greenland Ice Sheets - NASA
A new survey of Greenland's ice sheets is scheduled during May and June. Both the southern and northern portions will be surveyed.
April 8, 2003 -Arctic Lakes Deemed Warmest In History - Globe & Mail
The study of fossilized algae in lake sediment has led scientists to the conclusion that the lakes are warmer now than they have been in 5000 years. (Additional information from Science Daily).
April 1, 2003 -Yearly Arctic Ozone Loss Fluctuates ... - Space Daily
Microwave thermal data from NASA's Upper Atmosphere Satellite seems to indicate that ozone depletion in the Arctic region varies widely from year to year in timing, pattern, and amount.
March 31, 2003 -Global Warming Could Trigger ... - Science a GoGo
Global warming and partial melting of polar ice shelves could trigger a cascade of climatic changes that can occur with surprising rapidity.
March 05, 2003 -Mixed Verdict On Effect Of Oil Drilling - Washington Post
A report from the National Academies of Science and Engineering indicates that the government has done much to minimize environmental impact of oil and gas exploration in Alaska, but that the adverse consequences have not been eliminated and will continue to accumulate in the region. Read the report here.
Feb. 27, 2003 -Weird Weather Worries Yukoners - CBC North
The Borderland Ecological Cooperative in Whitehorse reports that many Alaskan communities have reported melting permafrost.
Feb. 3, 2003 - New Diamond Find Touted In Nunavut - north.cbc.ca
Small diamonds are reported to have been found on the Melville Peninsula.
Jan. 27, 2003 - Yukon Better Suited For Pipeline - north.cbc.ca
A federal study group reports that the Yukon is better suited for the building of a new gas pipeline than are the North West Territories. This study particularly looked at the impact of construction on transportation and visa-versa.
Jan. 27, 2003 - Global Warming Could Influence Asian Monsoon - Science Daily
Scientists studying the link between the climate of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Asian monsoon season have concluded that if the North Atlantic cools significantly due to increased ice melt, that one of the results could be a weakened monsoon season.
Jan. 21, 2003 - Nature, Not Aliens Make Odd Arctic Rings - CNN.com
Circles of stone and soil found in Alaska and other parts of the Arctic are caused by freeze-thaw cycles, not alien visitors.
Jan. 20, 2003 - Arctic Ice Shelf Shrinking - KnoxNews Sentinel
University of Tennessee scientists have found that the arctic ice sheet had shrunk by fifteen percent and lost nearly half its thickness over the past twenty years. It appears this is having a deleterious effect on krill and clams which are an essential part of the Arctic food chain. (You can view the changes in sea ice via an animation at the SOCC site.
Jan. 20, 2003 - Magnetic "Slinky Effect" May Power Aurora - Science Daily
The Northern lights, or auroras, may be powered by a "wiggling" of the earth's magnetic field.
Jan. 11, 2003 - Thaw in Greenland Threatens New Ice Age - Guardian Unlimited
Ice melt in Greenland broke all known records last year, causing changes in the Gulf Stream. This may a colder continental climate in England.
Jan. 6, 2003 - NASA Begins New Year With International Arctic Ozone Study - Earth Observatory
Scientists from several countries are working together this winter to get a more complete measurement of the ozone and other atmospheric gasses in the Arctic. The major push will be from January - March of this year.

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Home>Polar News>Arctic News Archives
			Arctic News Archives - Environment A collection of older (2003-2004) news items that relate to the environment of Arctic and surrounding regions. All links will take you to sites outside of the PRISM site. Use your back button to return. Return to Archive Topic List. Environmental News - 2004 December 30, 2004 - Earth's Permafrost Starts to Squelch. - Tehran Times Melting of permafrost is causing problems, not only in Alaska, but in other cold regions of the world. December 20, 2004 - Arctic Hit Hard By Climate Change - CBS The Arctic has seen an 8 percent loss of sea ice over the past 30 years and a 3-7 degree rise in temperatures over the past 50 years. This has contributed about 3 inches to global sea rise over the past twenty years. December 17, 2004 - Russia's North Pole-33 Station Drifting At High Speed - Novosti Russia's North Pole-33 Arctic research station has traveled more than 700 km over a 100 day period. Such ice-drift speeds are considered to be unusual. December 15, 2004 - Arctic Ocean Was Once Downright Balmy - National Post (Canada) Scientists from Oxford and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research have studied sediment cores from the Arctic Ocean and determined that 70 million years ago, things were much warmer there. December 14, 2004 - Mysterious Northern Light Brightens Arctic Night - Edmonton Journal Hunters in Resolute Bay say that the Arctic winter nights are not as dark as they were 6 years ago. They report a colored band of light extends along the horizon now, whereas it used to be almost totally dark. December 13, 2004 - Pollution Hotspots - BBC The Arctic has been designated as a pollution hotspot due to problems with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that threaten the health of humans and animals. POPs are probably carried from industrialized nations on wind currents. December 1, 2004 - Melting Arctic Bogs May Hasten Warming... - National Geographic A hotspot in western Siberia is home to the world's largest peat bog. If this peatland thaws and dries out due to the current warming trend, it would begin to release vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which could further accelerate global warming. December 1, 2004 - Arctic Trip Upsets Old Idea of Starved Seabed - International Herald Tribune Scientists, looking at an undersea ridge near the North Pole, say the sediments there are so biologically rich that the seabed may hold significant oil and gas deposits. November 24, 2004 - Arctic States Agree To Vague Plan to Slow Thaw - ENN Eight Arctic countries, including the United States, encouraged "effective measures" to adapt to climate change, but did not come to any agreements as to which measures to adopt. Environmentalists were not pleased with the vagueness of the policy document. (See similar story from Houston Chronicle.) November 18, 2004 - Government Must Monitor Hydrocarbons Extraction In Arctic - Novosti The director of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute says that permitting oil extraction at the Arctic shelf without a comprehensive ecosystem monitoring plan would be a crime. November 18, 2004 - New Findings From Arctic Coring Expedition ... - Space Daily Scientists from 10 countries met to analyze sediment cores from below the Arctic Ocean. These cores seem to indicate that the Arctic Ocean was frozen much earlier than previously thought. More results are expected in the next few months. November 18, 2004 - Russian Energy Strategy Programme Calls For Tapping Arctic Shelf - Novosti Russia is proposing to drill for oil and gas on the Arctic ice shelf saying it is absolutely necessary for Russia to meet its energy needs until 2020. Nov. 12, 2004 - Arctic Thaw May Open Shipping Lanes, But ... - ABC - Australia Though the thawing of the Arctic Ocean may result in a shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic, a trans-Arctic shipping boom is not expected due to high costs and numerous icebergs. November 9, 2004 - Arctic To Melt In 100 Years: Third World To Be Worst Hit - Times of India The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment study said human-induced changes in the earth's climate are affecting the Arctic region resulting in glacial melting. This will contribute to global sea-level rise. (Similar story from Detroit News.) November 8, 2004 - Arctic Warming At Twice Global Rate - CNN Global warming is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that threatens millions of livelihoods and could wipe out polar bears by 2100, an eight-nation report said. (Similar story from BBC) November 4, 2004 - Iceland Volcano Affects Flights - UK Times Online A volcano exploded from beneath Iceland's biggest glacier spewing ash and gas more seven miles into the air. It continues to steam, but has caused no injuries or evacuations. (Similar story by BBC). October/November, 2004 - Arctic Denizens Feel The Heat - NWF Climate change is adversely affecting wildlife and human communities, especially in the Arctic. For many changes in the sea ice are particularly devastating. The polar bear is already in trouble. October 11, 2004 - Arctic Radiation Levels Declining - The State Atomic radiation levels in the Arctic caused by above-ground nuclear testing and the Chernobyl disaster have fallen in much of the region, though the far north is still at risk. Aging nuclear materials on the Kola Peninsula in Russia are thought to pose a risk of more exposure. October 7, 2004 - Arctic Ice Melting More Quickly - CBC Sea ice coverage was 13.4 % below its average in September. This is the third year in a row with extreme ice loss. It isn't clear exactly what is driving this, but it might be global warming. September 29, 2004 - Melting Glacier Erodes Greenland Tourism - Taipei Times Ilulissat residents are quite concerned about the report that the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier had receded more than 5 km in the past two years. The community depends heavily on tourists who come to see the glacier calve into icebergs. September 28, 2004 - Martian Features Share Arctic Namesakes - CBC Several rocks and geographical features on Mars are named after places and bush pilots in the Arctic. These names may not be permanent but are used by scientists to refer to some of their discoveries. September 27, 2004 - Alaska Scientists Find Arctic Tundra Yields Surprising Carbon Loss - SpaceDaily Scientists did not find an expected link between plant growth and carbon-storage in tundra plants, but instead found that there was a big loss of carbon from the soil under simulated global warming conditions. September 23, 2004 - Arctic Glacier Photos Worth A Thousand Words - SitNews Photos of McCall Glacier in the Arctic National Wildlife Reguge show how far the glacier has receded between 1958 and 2003. September 15, 2004 - Hudson Announces Largest Greenland Diamond Find... - CCN Matthews A total of 120 diamonds greater than 106 microns have been recovered from a location in West Greenland. Many garnets have also been spotted in the area. Hudson thus has applied for a permit to acquire an additional 89 sq km in the Garnet Lake area. September 7, 2004 - Subtropical Arctic - Space Daily Scientists from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program's Arctic Coring Expedition (ACEX) have analyzed some fossils from their sediment cores and concluded that the North Pole once had a subtropical climate. Sept. 3, 2004 - Global Warming Thaws Arctic, Divides Governments - Yahoo! An international panel has established that the Arctic climate is warming rapidly now and even more rapid changes are expected and that human activities are partly responsible for this warming. But there is no agreement among countries which border the Arctic region on how it should be addressed. August 31, 2004 - Ice Clarifies Climate's Secrets - USA Today Pink ice, possible plant material and mud extracted from the bottom of the Greenland ice sheet at North GRIP are providing many new interesting insights into climate through the ages and possible life at the bottom of the ice sheet. August 30, 2004 - Arctic Coring Expedition Retrieves First Arctic Core- Space Daily An underwater mountain chain near the North Pole may hold clues to the climate 50 million years ago. Scientists have extracted a 40 million year old sediment core from the Arctic Ocean Ridge to unlock these secrets. (More on dangers faced by the drilling team from scotsman.com. August 28, 2004 - Major Temperature Rise Recorded in Arctic - ABC The Arctic Ocean has shown a major rise in temperature this year according to scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Science. August 27, 2004 - Toxins Accumulate In Arctic Peoples, Animals - National Geographic Studies of people and animals living in the Arctic have shown very high levels of chemical contaminants in their bodies. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from industrialized nations are infiltrating the food web. August 25, 2004 - Arctic Ecosystem Under Threat - Washington Times Increased oil and gas exploration and drilling as well as overfishing, nuclear waste and the invasion of non-native species is wreaking havoc in the Barents Sea area according to the United Nations Environmental Program. (See a map of Barents Sea. View map of wells in the area. Similar story by BBC.) August 24, 2004 - Norway To Consider Boosting Arctic Activity, Oil Minister Says - Bloomberg Norway is considering opening more of its waters to increased oil drilling and exploration.They recently reopened some of the Barents Sea for exploration and are under pressure from oil companies to increase drilling in the area. August 17, 2004 - Scientists Hope To Unlock Secrets Of The Arctic - SwissInfo A team of European researchers has embarked for the Arctic Ocean with the mission of better understanding climate change through a program of ocean drilling on the Lomonosov Ridge. (Map of the Ridge.) August 16, 2004 - Seabed Samples Offer Glimpse To Arctic Past - CBC Scientists in the Queen Maud Gulf are studying sediments from the seabed to help them better understand the marine ecosystem in the Arctic. (Map of Queen Maud Gulf.) August 10, 2004 - Satellite-Observed Changes In the Arctic - Physics Today Substantial changes have been seen in the surface temperature, permafrost, ice thickness and snow cover of the Arctic over the past decade. Many of these changes have been captured using satellite data. The analysis of these data show a compelling picture of warming throughout the Arctic. August 8, 2004 - Extremely High Concentration of Carbon Dioxide - Novosti Forest fires in Siberia may be the cause of extremely high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the ocean and atmosphere. Further study is planned. August 1, 2004 - Possible Mt. Spurr Eruption Worries Geologists - ABC Underground earthquake activity has increased near Alaska's Mt. Spurr triggering fears that an eruption may be near. (Follow the volcano activity live at the Alaska Volcano Observatory or Volcano World.) July 28, 2004 - Greenland Ice-Melt Speeding Up - BBC A scientist with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland reports that the edges of the Greenland ice sheet are melting 10 times more rapidly than had been indicated by previous research. July 17, 2004 - Protecting The Arctic From Oilmen - International Herald Tribune A plan has been announced to lease rights for oil and gas development in Teshekpuk Lake, an important breeding ground for many Arctic birds and subsistence area for the indigenous Inupiat who hunt and fish there. (Map of the area - The lake is near the yellow-colored Beaufort Sea Planning Area.) July 15, 2004 - Another Record Minimum For Sea Ice Cover In Arctic Ocean? - NSIDC Ice extent and concentration in the Arctic Ocean in June was much lower than typical this year than in past years, indicating that the annual minimum ice extent is likely to well below normal for the third year in a row. July 3, 2004 - Canada Starts Seabed Mapping... - CBC Canada has begun mapping the seabed in the Beaufort Sea, taking a step toward establishing sovereignty under international law. At stake is control of oil and gas reserves in the area. June 6, 2004 - Methane "Belch" Theory Gets Boost - BBC Discovery of gas vents in the Nordic Sea lend credence to the notion that a large release of methane 55 million years ago might have caused global warming in the Eocene period. June 4, 2004 - Ancient Life On Cold-Water Corals - BBC The UN Environment Programme reports that cold-water reefs are quite widespread and harbor many organisms thought to be long-extinct. These ancient reefs are spread from Greenland to the sub-Antarctic islands. June 4, 2004 - Arctic Cores Offer Climate Clues - BBC An international group is studying sediment cores taken from the Arctic sea bed to try to unravel how long Arctic sea ice has existed and how it had formed. Reports and images from this work will be online beginning in August at http://www.rcom-bremen.de/English/IODP.html June 3, 2004 - Man-Made Toxins Found In Arctic - CBS Chemicals used in televisions, toys and fire retardants have been found in Arctic wildlife according to Norwegian scientists. This is a sign that these chemicals do not break down as quickly as had been thought. (Similar story from Yahoo) May 31, 2004 - North Pole Pack Ice Dwindles - CBS Researchers are probing the pack ice around the North Pole to try to determine the effects of the dwindling pack ice on the oceanic and atmospheric circulation and commerce. May 25, 2004 - Fears Raised Over Fast Arctic Thaw - ABC/Reuters The report of an eight-nation study indicates that global warming is hitting the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Climate change there is characterized as "dramatic." (Similar story at CBC North. Similar story at Independent.co.uk) May 19, 2004 - Study to Examine How Climate Change Melts Permafrost Under Arctic Roads - Yahoo News The federal and territorial governments will study how climate change will affect the infrastructure, such as roads and runways, in the Arctic regions. Pipeline development must be carefully planned if the permafrost continues to melt. May 13, 2004 - Inuit 'Poisoned From Afar' By Climate Change - New Zealand Herald The head of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference said that the Inuit are paying dearly for the actions of people in other countries. Toxins and rising temperatures are two of the challenges caused by pollution in the Arctic. April 26, 2004 - New Ice Sheet Research Indicates Possible Global Climate Change - Newswise (U of Missouri-Columbia) Analysis of satellite data from 1978-2002 indicates that the upper elevations of the Greenland ice sheet are thinning especially in the southeast and that this trend has been going on for several decades. April 26, 2004 - Arctic Ozone Loss More Sensitive... - Science Daily NASA scientists have quantified a previously unknown link between Arctic ozone loss and changes in stratospheric temperatures.The sensitivity of ozone to temperature was significantly higher than had been predicted by atmospheric chemistry models. April 25, 2004 - Fallout From Melting Arctic Sea Ice ... - Anchorage Daily News Loss of Arctic sea ice may cause massive winter storms in Alaska according to a new climate study, while while causing western states in the US to experience a significant drought. April 23, 2004 - NASA Arctic Sea Ice Study May Stir Up Climate Models - Science Daily It has just recently been determined, by analyzing synthetic aperture radar data from the RADARSAT satellite, that Arctic sea ice undergoes small oscillations twice a day, even in the winter. This may increase chances for new ice formation and should be factored into climate models according to the scientists. April 21, 2004 - Arctic Carbon A Potential Wild Card In Climate Change Scenarios - Science Daily It appears that most of the carbon in the Arctic Ocean is fairly young carbon brought by rivers, and thus is not likely to play a big part in affecting global climate. April 16, 2004 - Satellites Record Weakening North Atlantic Current - Science Daily Satellite records indicate that the North Atlantic Ocean circulation weakened considerably in the late 1990s when compared to levels in the 1970s and 1980s. This could herald dramatic changes in North Atlantic Ocean climate, but we won't know for another 5-10 years. (Abstract from Science magazine.) April 8, 2004 - Pole "Flip" Takes 7000 Years - The Australian Study of sediment cores seem to indicate that a reversal of the earth's magnetic field takes about 7000 years, though it occurs somewhat faster at the equator. April 7, 2004 - Greenland's Ice Cap Under Threat - BBC A recent glaciology study predicts an 8°C increase in Greenland's temperature by 2350. Such a change would melt the Greenland ice cap and cause average sea level to rise. (Similar story from Independent.com) April 2, 2004 - Yukon Doubtful About Offshore ANWAR Drilling - North CBC While the Alaskan governor favors oil drilling off the shores of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the members of the Yukon government are not so sure it is a good idea. Mar. 24, 2004 - Russia Arctic Oil Facility To Ease Northern Export- Daily Times A huge Russian oil tanker on the Barents Sea will begin operation as a storage facility this week. It is predicted this will make exports to Europe and the United States easier. Mar. 17, 2004 - Alaska Oil Would Barely Help U.S. - Alexanders Gas & Oil Connections An Energy Dept. analysis showed that opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development would only slightly reduce America's dependence on imports and lower the prices by less than 50 cents per barrel. Mar. 11, 2004 - ...Study Sheds New Light On Climate Change Process - Science Daily A new study shows that salinity levels in the Caribbean Sea are critical drivers of the deep-ocean circulation system in the North Atlantic. Mar. 9, 2004 - Over the Top - SMH Australia The melting of the Arctic ice cap may have a profound effect on global shipping, by opening the much sought Northeast Passage. If the ice cap continues to melt, this route could become as busy as the Suez Canal. Mar. 8, 2004 - Will The World Just Chill Out - Space Daily Global warming in the Arctic could plunge Western Europe and North America into a deep freeze in the next few decades.The thawing of sea ice could disturb the warming currents found in the North Atlantic. Satellite records of sea ice extent show a clear retreat of the sea ice over the past 25 years, a trend that appears to be accelerating. Feb. 9, 2004 - Scientists Discover Ozone-Destroying Molecule - NASA - JPL Analysis of data from a NASA aircraft flying over the Arctic has allowed observation of a molecule (chlorine monoxide dimer) that has been postulated to be important in the destruction of stratospheric ozone. Measurements of this molecule will help scientists better quantify ozone loss in this region. Jan. 30, 2004 - Exxon's Alaska Spill Bill Climbs to $5.8bn - Australian An Alaskan judge has ordered Exxon to pay $US4.5 billion ($Euro5.8) in punitive damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Exxon plans to appeal the decision. Jan. 27, 2004 - Glaciers and Sea Ice Endangered By Rising Temperatures - ENN In both 2002 and 2003, the Northern Hemisphere showed record low sea ice cover. A major glacier in Greenland is thinning four times faster than in the past. Similar losses of ice cover are being reported around the world. Jan. 25, 2004 - Global Warming Could Plunge Britain Into New Ice Age... - NZ Herald A significant change in the circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean, tied to global warming, could cause Britain to experience a much colder climate if it turns off the Gulf Stream, as it appears to be poised to do. This change could occur within our lifetime, according to scientists. Jan. 16, 2004 - ...Origins of Peat Bogs Raises Concerns - Science Daily Siberian peat bogs which are typically frozen appear to be huge repositories of carbon dioxide and thus play a major role in world climate balance. If these bogs thaw due to currently rising temperatures in the Arctic, there is concern that they may release this gas into the atmosphere causing major and unexpected shifts in climate. (Similar story from National Geographic; Another story from NSF). Jan. 5, 2004 - Soot and Snow: A Hot Combination - Science a GoGo Black soot on snow alters the snow reflectivity according to new NASA climate simulations. Soot deposits, particularly in the Arctic region may be playing an important role in climatic changes recently seen, such as thinning sea ice and melting glaciers and permafrost. Environment - 2003 Dec 31, 2003 - Cross-Tundra Tour To Raise Global Warming Awareness - CBC North An American-led dogsled team has begun a 5,000 km transect of the Arctic with the stated purpose of educating people about global warming. Students and other interested parties can follow their trek via their website. Dec. 10, 2003 - ...Spring Thaw Makes A Difference - NASA NASA scientists using a suite of microwave remote sensing instruments have observed a trend of earlier thawing across the northern latitudes. Spring thaw has advanced almost one day per year since 1988, lengthening the growing season. Increased vegetation and growing season allows plants to remove more harmful greenhouse gases. Dec. 10, 2003 - ...Ocean Mapping Cruise to Arctic - NOAA Scientists from NOAA, the University of New Hampshire and others have recently discovered and mapped a complex underwater mountain (seamount) while doing ice-breaking activities. They used multibeam sonar to accomplish the task. They also gathered evidence of ice age glaciation from the sea floor. Dec. 9, 2003 - Major Greenland Glacier... Now Shrinking Dramatically - Ohio State University News The Jakobshavn glacier in Greenland which had come to a halt in the early 1990s is now on the move again. This glacier is one of the major drainage outlets for the Greenland Ice Sheet. It shows signs of thinning (12 meters/year) as well as increasing speed (9 km/year). Oct. 30, 2003 - Melting Ice At World's Rooftop Stirs Concern - Christian Science Monitor Arctic ice cap shrinkage of about 10% per decade is causing great concern as scientists document changes in flora and fauna, sea ice and climate. The changes could impact shipping, food production, and climate across the globe. (Similar story from Spaceflight Now) Oct. 24, 2003 - Arctic Clean-up Boost - New Zealand News The US is providing $49.2 million to help with the UN-backed clean-up of the Russian Arctic. The area is contaminated mecury, oil, and nuclear waste from the Cold War years. (Longer article on this topic from BBC) Oct. 23, 2003 - ...Evidence of Arctic Warming Grows - NASA This article provides interesting animations and video and describes how scientists are trying to look at what's happening to polar ice, and more importantly why those changes are occuring. Oct. 23, 2003 - Scientists Use Satellite to "Pond-er" Melted Arctic Ice - NASA Satellite and aircraft video are being used as part of a new technique for locating "melt ponds" of water on Arctic sea ice. This new technique will help scientists better understand heat balance in the Arctic. Oct. 7, 2003 - Research Shows Little Effect From Arctic Offshore Oil Drilling - Science Daily A new study study shows that offshore oil drilling has had little negative impact on the Alaskan Arctic marine ecosystem over the past four years. Oct. 4, 2003 - Ice Melting More Quickly In Arctic - China.org Chinese scientists have discovered that the ice is melting at accelerating speed in the Arctic which may have implications for worldwide weather patterns. Oct. 1, 2003 - New Chemicals in Arctic's Toxic Stew - MSNBC Chemicals used in tv sets and computers and as stain removers and flame retardants have been showing up in polar bears, whales and birds, according the latest 5 year study. This adds to other toxins that have previously been found in these animals. Oct. 1, 2003 - Rare Iceberg Sighted Off Tuktoyaktuk - CBC North A large piece of ice has been sighted off the coast of the Northwest Territories in the Bering Sea. It is quite rare to see ice this large in this area. Sept. 26, 2003 - Ice Cap Meltdown Warning - New Zealand Herald The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf breakup has caused a New Zealand scientist to warn that the Arctic ice cap may be melted entirely in as few as 70 years. Sept. 26, 2003 - Northern Climate, Ecosystems Driven By Cycles of Changing Sunlight - Science Daily Evidence from Alaskan lake sediment reveals that slight variations in the sun's intensity have affected the climate and ecosystems of the North in a predictable fashion for the last 12,000 years. Sept. 23, 2003 - Arctic ice Shelf Splits - BBC The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf off Ellesmere Island, the largest Arctic ice shelf, has split allowing release of water from a fresh-water lake. This is further evidence of climate change in the Arctic. Sept. 17, 2003 - Alaska Gas Debate Re-Opens In US Congress - CBC North The White house appears to be moving away from insisting that Congress open the ANWAR to oil drilling. Sept. 17, 2003 - Spawning Salmon Polluting Alaskan Lakes... - Bloomberg.com Salmon migrating from the Pacific are carrying PCBs in their fat cells. These PCBs are probably the result of ocean pollution from coastal factories. The salmon then seem to be polluting the lakes to which they migrate with these cancer-causing chemicals. Sept. 17, 2003 - Emerald Prospectors Stumble Onto Gold - CBC North There has been a discovery of gold and silver in the Findlasen Lake area in the Yukon. Sept. 1, 2003 - Shuttle Launch Creates Arctic Clouds - U.S. Air Force Shuttle exhaust, 97% of which is water vapor, settles and forms into noctilucent clouds over the Arctic. July 31, 2003 - ... Scientists Track Freshwater Flow from Arctic Into the Atlantic - Science Daily Fresh water from ice melt and rivers in the Arctic is being studied by more than 35 scientists as the water moves into the Atlantic. This is being done to determine how this water affects ocean circulation and global climate. July 29, 2003 - Scientists Plunge Into Arctic Lakes - CBC News Canadian scientists are collecting water, algae and zooplankton from Lake Hazen, about 800 km from the North Pole, to get a better handle on climate change and its effects on Arctic lakes. July 22, 2003 - Breaking Through Greenland's Ice Cap - Daily News The North Greenland Ice Core Project hit bedrock after seven years of drilling.The ice was nearly 2 miles deep. PRISM was there for some of this work - view our Video Gallery to learn more. July 22, 2003 - New Location of Deep Convection May Exist In North Atlantic - Science Daily Mixing of ocean waters may actually occur in a location in the North Atlantic where it was tentatively identified about 100 years ago by explorer Fridtjof Nansen. This site is east of Greenland. July 10, 2003 - Is The Arctic Ice Melting Forever? - Xplorersweb Chinese scientists will be looking at how climatic change in the Arctic affects weather in China by establishing a base at Svalbard. More from China.org July 9, 2003 - Baked Alaska: Record Heat Hits Anchorage - RedNova A record high was set for July 8, breaking an 84 year old record. June 26, 2003 - Behavior of Arctic Ocean Ridge Confounds Predictions... - Science Daily An ocean ridge under the Arctic ice cap is volcanically active and has multiple hydrothermal vents. This discovery may lead to changes in the understanding of how ocean ridges work to produce the Earth's crust. (More from NSF) June 26, 2003 - WWF Wants Pipeline Guarantees - CBC North World Wildlife Fund leaders will not oppose a McKenzie Valley pipeline if the agreement contains protections for sensitive cultural and environmental areas. June 19, 2003 - Mapping Ice Sheets In Greenland - Chinotague Beacon Aerial surveys of the Greenland ice sheet may help scientists track and understand global climate change. PRISM scientists are involved with this project also! June 18, 2003 - Hydrogen Fuel Could Widen Ozone Hole - Nature Hydrogen fuel may not be as environmentally friendly as hoped. It appears that long-term use could increase damage to the ozone layer. May 7, 2003 - Mapping the Greenland Ice Sheets - NASA A new survey of Greenland's ice sheets is scheduled during May and June. Both the southern and northern portions will be surveyed. April 8, 2003 -Arctic Lakes Deemed Warmest In History - Globe & Mail The study of fossilized algae in lake sediment has led scientists to the conclusion that the lakes are warmer now than they have been in 5000 years. (Additional information from Science Daily). April 1, 2003 -Yearly Arctic Ozone Loss Fluctuates ... - Space Daily Microwave thermal data from NASA's Upper Atmosphere Satellite seems to indicate that ozone depletion in the Arctic region varies widely from year to year in timing, pattern, and amount. March 31, 2003 -Global Warming Could Trigger ... - Science a GoGo Global warming and partial melting of polar ice shelves could trigger a cascade of climatic changes that can occur with surprising rapidity. March 05, 2003 -Mixed Verdict On Effect Of Oil Drilling - Washington Post A report from the National Academies of Science and Engineering indicates that the government has done much to minimize environmental impact of oil and gas exploration in Alaska, but that the adverse consequences have not been eliminated and will continue to accumulate in the region. Read the report here. Feb. 27, 2003 -Weird Weather Worries Yukoners - CBC North The Borderland Ecological Cooperative in Whitehorse reports that many Alaskan communities have reported melting permafrost. Feb. 3, 2003 - New Diamond Find Touted In Nunavut - north.cbc.ca Small diamonds are reported to have been found on the Melville Peninsula. Jan. 27, 2003 - Yukon Better Suited For Pipeline - north.cbc.ca A federal study group reports that the Yukon is better suited for the building of a new gas pipeline than are the North West Territories. This study particularly looked at the impact of construction on transportation and visa-versa. Jan. 27, 2003 - Global Warming Could Influence Asian Monsoon - Science Daily Scientists studying the link between the climate of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Asian monsoon season have concluded that if the North Atlantic cools significantly due to increased ice melt, that one of the results could be a weakened monsoon season. Jan. 21, 2003 - Nature, Not Aliens Make Odd Arctic Rings - CNN.com Circles of stone and soil found in Alaska and other parts of the Arctic are caused by freeze-thaw cycles, not alien visitors. Jan. 20, 2003 - Arctic Ice Shelf Shrinking - KnoxNews Sentinel University of Tennessee scientists have found that the arctic ice sheet had shrunk by fifteen percent and lost nearly half its thickness over the past twenty years. It appears this is having a deleterious effect on krill and clams which are an essential part of the Arctic food chain. (You can view the changes in sea ice via an animation at the SOCC site. Jan. 20, 2003 - Magnetic "Slinky Effect" May Power Aurora - Science Daily The Northern lights, or auroras, may be powered by a "wiggling" of the earth's magnetic field. Jan. 11, 2003 - Thaw in Greenland Threatens New Ice Age - Guardian Unlimited Ice melt in Greenland broke all known records last year, causing changes in the Gulf Stream. This may a colder continental climate in England. Jan. 6, 2003 - NASA Begins New Year With International Arctic Ozone Study - Earth Observatory Scientists from several countries are working together this winter to get a more complete measurement of the ozone and other atmospheric gasses in the Arctic. The major push will be from January - March of this year. <<Back to top