News Briefing: 27 December 2022 The Government of Nunavut released an assessment in late December in partnership with Arctic scientists, which found that polar bear populations in Hudson Bay have decreased by 27% over the past five years, much faster than projected. The town of Churchill, located in Western Hudson Bay, is a high-activity region […]
Antarctic marine species and ecosystems face an uncertain future, especially those that live in close association with ice. This event was organized by WWF-UK and illuminated the plight of emperor penguins, a species that is gravely threatened by the climate-driven disappearance of Antarctic sea ice. The abundance of these penguins may decline by 99% under […]
Science, 6 January 2023 Improved glacier-specific projections that incorporate more detailed satellite measurements and ice dynamics forecast greater glacier loss already by 2100 with continued high emissions of today (resulting in 4°C by 2100), versus rapid emissions reduction this decade which keep global mean temperatures close to 1.5°C. The difference is especially stark for the […]
This COP26 video with IPCC scientist Dr. Regine Hock, University of Oslo/University of Alaska and one of the above paper’s co-authors, explains some of the dynamics and research behind the above study released this week. Her presentation notes that glaciers are now receding and losing ice worldwide, even in regions where they seemed stable before. […]
To the widespread Cryosphere community, we wish you a fulfilling and inspiring 2023! Thanks to everyone — from researchers in the field, those developing and implementing policies, and communities on the local level — for your hard work in protecting the cryosphere, and thus both human and ecosystem well-being for future generations. This email marks […]
Dear Cryosphere Capsule Readers 30 December 2022 ICCI is looking to fill two positions early in 2023: our Outreach Director, and an Antarctica Director, which can be structured as a one- or two-year science-policy Post-doctoral Fellowship for early career researchers, similar to AAAS positions in the U.S. Capsule position descriptions are below: please forward these […]
Nature Communications, 17 December 2022 Rising temperatures in the Arctic are overwhelming the ability of sea ice to regrow in winter, which suggests that ice production is currently passing a peak and will dramatically decrease under further climate warming. The Kara and Laptev seas are sometimes referred to as Arctic “ice factories” due to their […]
Nature Communications, 21 December 2022 Small ocean currents known as “gyres” can trap heat along the edges of West Antarctica, sending warm meltwater from one ice shelf into cavities along the base of other downstream shelves, especially during the summer months. This intrusion of freshwater triggers additional melting, making these downstream ice shelves more vulnerable […]
The Arctic is currently warming three to four times faster than the rest of the world. Melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, rapidly retreating land ice and intensifying wildfires are already impacting Arctic ecosystems. These changes have devastating consequences on local and indigenous populations and will impact the lives and livelihoods of billions of people beyond […]
News Briefing: 14 December 2022 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released their 17th annual “Arctic Report Card,” bringing together 150 authors from across the world to assess the current state of the Arctic. Key findings include that rising global emissions are transforming the Arctic into a warmer and wetter environment. Air temperatures […]
Nature, 7 December 2022 Ancient DNA frozen in permafrost from northern Greenland reveals that this region was covered in a thriving forest ecosystem around 2 million years ago, a period during which local air temperatures were only several degrees warmer than current conditions. Prior to these findings, it was nearly impossible to reconstruct such ecosystems, […]
Arctic Indigenous Peoples face a complex landscape of environmental hazards due to climate change. Many Arctic communities are experiencing escalating loss and damage; encompassing loss of land, cultural heritage, and local and Indigenous knowledge. This session offered solutions on how scientists, Indigenous knowledge-holders, and decision-makers can come together to overcome the obstacles faced by complex […]
News Briefing: 2 November 2022 The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and various scientific institutions, has released a report on the global state of mountain glaciers with a clear message: limiting global warming to 1.5°C could save glaciers in two-thirds of World Heritage […]
Deep Sea Research Part II, 2 December 2022 With continued high CO2 emissions, cold water invertebrates in the Arctic Bering and Chukchi seas, such as mussels, snails, and clams, may lose half of their habitat within the next thirty years. The Bering and Chukchi seas connect the Pacific and Arctic oceans, supporting a wide range […]
Climate hazards in mountains have compounding negative effects on local ecosystems, with cascading impacts on billions of people downstream and worldwide. In a panel discussion, speakers provide an overview of these risks based on the latest IPCC assessment, offer diverse experiences in responding to them, and discuss engaging scientific insights and practical knowledge on policy […]