The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the globe

Previous studies have concluded that the Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the global average.

New research now shows that the warming of the Arctic is proceeding at a faster pace.

in New study Published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, researchers in Norway and Finland analyzed four sets of temperature data over several decades.

The numbers go back to 1979, when satellite data became available.

The researchers behind the study concluded that the temperature in the Arctic increased by 0.75 degrees Celsius per decade. That’s four times faster than the rest of the world.

The results suggest that even the most accurate climate models may be underestimating the rate of warming in the Arctic.

It is common in the literature for the Arctic to warm at twice the rate of the globe, so it was a bit surprising that our number was much higher, says co-author Antti Lipponen from the Finnish Meteorological Institute to NTB.

Climate models underestimate them

– There are interesting results and it would be good to have an updated analysis of the best available datasets for the Arctic.

Here’s what researcher at the Meteorological Institute, Ketil Isaksen, says about the study.

The research used slightly different data sets. They agree that the warming is greater than what has been seen before, and that climate models often underestimate extreme warming in the Arctic.

According to him, the climateModels are very imprecise as temperature changes are greater.

Jan-Gunnar Winther, director of the Oceanic and Arctic Center at the University of the Arctic in UiT Norway, says hThe urgency and force of the changes will change the Arctic dramatically.

– In the current situation with so many other crises, such as energy, food, transportation and war, there is a real risk that tackling the climate crisis will be given lower priority, he says.

He believes that the climate crisis is a major global challenge that can only be solved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As climate change amplifies the other crises we face, it is very important that we follow through on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming.

Isaacson Meteorological Institute We also think it might be possible to stabilize the warming, but with strong measures.

The research shows that there are still opportunities for the situation to change or stabilize, with a sharp drop in emissions, says Isaacsen.

strengthening effect

In 2019, the United Nations wrote in a special report that the Arctic is warming faster since snow and ice fall, reflecting sunlight, melting and flowing into the sea. The ocean absorbs the same light.

Climate change will have a major impact on the local communities, nature and wildlife that depend on sea ice to find food.

In addition, the rapid warming of the Arctic will have consequences for the entire world. The Greenland ice sheet contains enough fresh water to raise the world’s sea level by about six metres.

As the Arctic warms, glaciers are melting. This will affect sea level around the world, says Libonin, who maintains that humans are causing climate change.

Research ships found little ice

Earlier this summer, the FF research vessel “Kronprins Haakon” reached the North Pole Earlier than expected due to lack of ice.

Dramatic things have happened in ten years. This is a cause for concern, said a sea ice researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute, Mats Granskog, who took part in the expedition.

Granskog was one of 27 researchers and technicians who were with the research vessel on its maiden voyage to the North Pole.

We know that the Arctic Ocean is changing, but we didn’t expect the changes to be so extensive, says campaign leader and director of the Polar Institute, Ole Arf Messund.