Arctic

What the collapse of salmon populations means for one Alaska family

7:42pm March 20, 2024

by Kavitha George

For Alaska Native communities along the Yukon River, fishing for salmon has always been a central part of life. But climate change is driving a massive collapse in salmon populations.

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Large icebergs and smaller pieces of ice melt in the ocean waters near Ilulissat, Greenland on Sept. 7, 2023. The icebergs broke free from Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the largest and fastest moving Greenland outlet glaciers. Ice loss from Greenland has increased substantially during the 21st century and continued in 2023.

Science

Arctic "report card" points to rapid and dramatic impacts of climate change

4:32pm December 12, 2023

by Barbara Moran / WBUR

This past summer in the Arctic was the warmest since 1900, leading to early snowmelt and diminished sea ice.

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The iron ore mine in Kiruna, north of the Arctic Circle, is one of the world's largest iron ore mines.

It's a journey to the center of the rare earths discovered in Sweden

9:01am July 18, 2023

by Jackie Northam

Sweden says it found the largest deposit in Europe of rare earths — ingredients in a host of technologies from e-vehicles to wind turbines. Mining and processing them is another story.

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National

This is what's at risk from climate change in Alaska

5:06pm December 22, 2022

by Julie Depenbrock

Climate change is transforming the Arctic, and putting indigenous communities in Alaska at risk.

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Norwegian coast guard cutters are used for rescue, fishery inspection, research purposes and general patrols in Norwegian waters.

A new Iron Curtain is eroding Norway's hard-won ties with Russia on Arctic issues

5:00am April 30, 2022

The countries share a border. Along the frontier, residents say a new barrier has disrupted everything from Arctic climate action and nuclear waste control to trade and cross-border sports leagues.

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Tourists visit the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica in 2019. A new study suggests that tourism and research activity in the most heavily trafficked part of the continent are leading to significantly more snow melt.

Soot is accelerating snow melt in popular parts of Antarctica, a study finds

3:32pm February 22, 2022

by Rebecca Hersher

Arctic communities have long been plagued by soot that drives snow melt and respiratory disease. Now, humans are making their mark in Antarctica.

A walrus pictured at the Pairi Daiza animal park in Brugelette, Belgium.

Environment

Researchers are asking for volunteer 'walrus detectives' to spot walruses from space

1:36pm October 14, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

Conservationists are trying to track walrus populations amid climate change but they can't do it alone.

Voters stand in line to cast ballots Tuesday for Greenland's parliamentary elections at a polling station in the capital.

Opposition Wins Elections In Greenland, Casting Doubt On Future Of Rare-Earth Mine

2:11pm April 07, 2021

by Scott Neuman

At the center of Tuesday's election was a rare-earth mining project that has seen those favoring greater development square off against others who want more environmental safeguards.

A man wears a mask as the territory of Nunavut enters a two week mandatory restriction period in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, on Wednesday. More than 80 COVID-19 cases have been identified this month in Nunavut, where around 39,000 people, predominantly Inui

Arctic Lockdown: COVID-19 Climbs In Canada's Far North

5:08pm November 20, 2020

by Emma Jacobs

A large and isolated region of northeastern Canada entered a two-week lockdown as coronavirus cases creep up in areas, including largely Indigenous communities, with limited access to intensive care.

Science

Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists

11:05am May 22, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Moss balls seem to roll around glaciers in a coordinated way, and researchers can't explain why the whole group moves at about the same speed and in the same direction.