Tag: climate change

Arctic sea ice retreat is well observed by satellites and new technology. So why do we still need scientists working on the ice?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Sea ice is an essential part of Earth’s climate and ocean systems, and in the Arctic the ice decreases year by year.

The last Ice Age excavated bedrock equivalent to 500 times Mount Everest

Researchers have calculated how much volume the last Ice Age eroded in Norway and northern Europe.

Is there any hope of reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change?

OPINION: Believing that we can achieve the Paris Agreement is not naïve, idealistic, or utopian, according to professor Karen O'Brien.

Very few actually have climate anxiety

The term is often used by journalists and researchers. But a new study suggests that climate anxiety is not very widespread.

Gas leaks in the Baltic Sea: An observatory in southern Norway has recorded an extreme increase in the amount of methane in the air

“We have never seen anything like it,” says researcher from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

Record-hot summer in Svalbard

This year's summer in Svalbard is the hottest ever recorded. The previous record from 2020 only lasted two years.

The Arctic is heating up much faster than expected

Temperatures in the Arctic have risen almost four times faster than on the rest of the planet, according to a new study. Svalbard is warming up even faster.

Climate expert: Norwegians do not understand how dangerous these heat waves are

The heat waves that have occurred in recent summers create extremely dangerous conditions that are difficult for Norwegians to understand, according to climate researcher Tore Furevik.

EU-study: One in four Norwegians do not believe that climate change is caused by humans

While eight in ten Italians believe that climate change is caused by humans, only six in ten Norwegians believe the same, according to a new study.

Climate change: One year of warm currents fundamentally changed Spitsbergen’s sea ice coverage

OPINION: When meteorologists report fine weather on Svalbard, it's the air temperature they talk about. But when it comes to global warming, ocean temperature is the big joker.

This is how climate change is impacting our nature right now

“This is a very strong signal to take better care of nature,” says one researcher.

Ancient remains from reindeer hunting and a forgotten trail in the Norwegian mountains found by glacial archaeologists

Melting ice has laid bare arrowheads, traces from reindeer hunting and a mountain trail in one of the many sites that the Secrets of the Ice-team continuously monitor for finds.

Norwegian glaciers are shrinking all over the country

A new mapping of the country’s glaciers finds that they have shrunk by 14 per cent.

Deadly heat and extreme rainfall: This is what the world will be like if the temperature rises by 3 degrees, according to researchers

“It is very likely that we will reach three degrees. I consider 1.5 and 2 degrees to be almost unattainable. Now the question is how close to three we will get,” says one Norwegian researcher.

Could Isaac Newton show us the way into the Green Shift?

Climate change, loss of biodiversity, and degraded ecosystems: we're in trouble and something needs to be done. We need to change, and we know what to do. But we probably need some help on how to proceed. Maybe we can be inspired by Isaac Newton’s three laws?

Here’s what the latest climate models say about what will happen to Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets

More warming doesn’t necessarily mean that meltwater from Antarctica will contribute to even more sea level rise in 2100, but there’s still a great deal of uncertainty about the future.

What kind of climate measures work in villages and towns?

What works in the city doesn’t always work in a village. Or vice versa. But are some climate measures suitable for both environments?

Healthcare workers are raising the alarm: We need zero-carbon healthcare

OPINION: Last year, England launched a zero-carbon health system strategy, inspiring a global movement. With an election on the horizon, it is time for Norway to decide whether we are in or out.

Is it possible to live a climate-friendly life?

Seen in a global context, Norwegian emissions are small. Is there any point in expensive, demanding measures? Researcher Torvald Tangeland responds.

Reduced Norwegian oil exports will reduce global emissions according to researchers

Other countries will not follow suit and produce enough oil to close the gap, the researchers say. Some Norwegian politicians and the oil industry however beg to differ.

Older people are less worried about climate change than before the pandemic

Are we more concerned about coronavirus than the climate?

The pandemic has given young people faith that something can be done about climate change

Seven out of ten young Norwegians aged 18-30 respond that their belief that something can be done about climate change has increased since the pandemic.

Now researchers know what’s underneath Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in continental Europe

Jostedalsbreen represents perhaps the largest unknown area in the region. Recently, geologists have mapped the glacier using georadar.

Is train transport the most environmentally friendly way to move goods?

Transporting goods by train instead of trucks can result in big cuts in CO2 emissions.

The "missing link" that triggered the ice ages

Melting icebergs from Antarctica are the key, according to a new study.

New report shows workers in the fossil fuels industry have a deep distrust of environmentalists

Distrust against environmentalists is widespread among those employed in oil- and gas-related businesses. There’s also a sense of bitterness against unions that are pushing for a more climate friendly industry.

Production of pet food for cats and dogs leaves a considerable carbon paw print

Producing dry kibble for our pets requires lots of farmland — equivalent to roughly twice the area of the United Kingdom. Replace animal remains used in the feed with insects, suggests one Norwegian researcher.

Record high levels of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere over Norway in 2019

For the 19th year in a row, record high levels of CO2 and methane were measured in the atmosphere over Norway, according to new numbers.

Climate change is a bigger field of research in Norway than in any other country

Even so, Norwegian researchers only account for two per cent of the world’s total research on climate change. This two per cent however has had a great impact on further research, according to a new report.

Historic amount of flooding in Europe during the last 30 years

Europe is now experiencing more frequent and greater floods compared to the last 500 years, according to a pan-European study that included Norway.

Norway needs coronavirus-style measures to start the green shift along the coast

OPINION: Norway’s coastal communities and ocean industries want stricter regulations and greater investment in becoming more sustainable. Governments around the world have acted swiftly to suppress the coronavirus – a similar coordinated effort would be an effective tool to combat the climate changes we are facing.

Now kids and teens in Norway have their own Climate House

How can scientists really know that the climate is changing? A visit to the new Climate House that has just opened in Oslo may help you understand it.

Learning from corona: Climate change, security and justice

Just as the coronavirus, climate change is an existential threat that requires urgent measures. So why are we not treating it with the same kind of urgency, asks GLOBUS researcher Thomas Diez.

Never before has so much rain been recorded in January in Norway

Had it not been for a cold day in Northern Norway at the very end of the month, this January would have also been the warmest ever recorded in Norway.

Most Norwegians think they have a responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions

But there is no consensus as to what should actually be done.

Shorter winters and much less snow in 30 years

There will most likely be only half as many days with good conditions for skiing in Norway in 30 years compared to today, researchers at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute predict.

Christmas gift trends: Less jewellery, and ethical gifts not gaining ground

Despite society’s increasing focus on the environment, the tradition of giving each other gifts for Christmas remains deeply embedded in our culture. It’s still rare to give ethical Christmas presents. Granted, jewellery is less likely to glitter under the Christmas tree, while food and drink have become more popular as gifts.

The strict EAT-diet is supposed to be good for the climate and good for our health. But how did researchers arrive at their recommendations?

The report lacks important information and the EAT dietary advice is based on uncertain models, researchers write in a new review. The EAT experts do not agree.

Heritage conservation and Climate Change: Introducing the Future of our past in the Norwegian context.

Transitions are changes in the way of do things, and to stimulate them it is necessary to expand our understanding of the world and its realities, so we can create new ways to relate to them. Although such proposals seem rather theoretical and abstract, this article will discuss how such transition is happening in the cultural heritage field.

Celebrity lifestyle increases global warming: New study flight-shames Bill Gates and Paris Hilton

While Greta Thunberg and the kids are out marching for climate change to be taken seriously, celebrities like Bill Gates and Paris Hilton continue flying like the world has no limits.

Norwegian universities tackle their carbon footprints from travel

You would think that universities would be leading the charge to cut back on carbon-intensive air travel. But some members of the Norwegian business community are far ahead of academics in dropping flights.

Exhaust gas is to blame: Ground-level ozone is damaging crops

Exhaust gas emissions have doubled the amount of ground-level ozone. Vegetation is being destroyed. Food production is decreasing. Researchers now fear that the damage is greatest in the Arctic regions.

What the world can learn from Brazilian coral reefs

Unlike Australia, coral reefs in Brazil haven’t seen any mass mortality events related to bleaching so far. Could Brazilian corals hold the key to more resilient reefs?

Time to wake up: Climate Change is already here

The serious warnings of the latest IPCC report lost the battle for media attention to Brexit, Trump, and the US mid-term elections. But it’s time to sit up and take notice. For small island states that face loss of sovereignty due to climate change, the clock is already ticking, warns climate researcher Adelle Thomas from the Bahamas.

Here’s what a warmer world will look like in Norway

The UN's new special report on the 1.5 degree C target describes dramatic consequences for ecosystems if global temperatures rise an average of 2 degrees. How vulnerable are Norwegian ecosystems under these conditions?

An ice-free oasis in the Arctic sheltered life during the last ice age

Researchers from Norway and the UK have found evidence for ice-free corridors in the Arctic where life flourished during the Ice Age.

It's important to have a goal: UN climate report view from the Nordics

Most experts agree it will be difficult, if not impossible, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But it is important to have an ambitious goal.

How China reduced Europe’s carbon footprint

Recent policy changes in China probably have a much bigger effect on EU and U.S. carbon footprints than any other factor.

Can we really limit global warming to “well below” two degrees centigrade?

Yes, but only in a model. We have essentially emitted too much carbon dioxide already, and the most feasible pathways to stay “well below” two degrees all require removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at an unprecedented scale.

The Great Barrier Reef is in trouble

Nearly half of Australia’s famed coral reef is sending serious distress signals as persistent high ocean temperatures cause corals to bleach.

Tundra shrubs can speed warming

A rapidly warming climate is boosting the growth of shrubs on the tundra. These absorb more solar heat and intensify global warming.

Declining winter sea ice near Greenland spells cooler climate for Europe

OPINION: Loss of winter sea ice around Greenland and Iceland is affecting ocean circulation there, and could lead to a cooler climate for western Europe.

Fjords catch loads of carbon

Organic material is quickly buried at the bottom of fjords round the world.

Tiny gravitational changes indicate loss of glacial ice

Researchers have discovered by chance that the ice of the Folgefonna Glacier has thinned by seven metres.

Exotic travellers are planet warmers

Nature and experienced-based tours to distant countries take us happily out of our daily routines, but they are also far from good for the environment. The tourist industry should really care about how people reach their destinations – not just how many bath towels they are using.

Wild salmon can adapt to climate change

Atlantic salmon are more capable of withstanding temperature changes than scientists had thought.

Geoengineers can only give us a breather

Cloud brightening and other mega-scale projects to reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching our planet are risky, scientists say.

Skagerrak prawn stocks on the rebound

For years catches of shrimp have been shrinking and fishermen have had good reason to be concerned about their livelihoods. But the crunch on these crustaceans in the Skagerrak seems to be letting up.

Puffin chicks die of hunger

For seven years now, Atlantic puffins have been abandoning chicks and eggs in their nesting colonies because they cannot find enough food. The ocean is teeming with mackerel which consume the small fish that puffins normally feed to their offspring.

Food security hinges on climate adaptation

Climate change can have a devastating effect on agriculture in many regions. But much can be done to ensure future food supplies for everyone.

Aerosols are wild cards in climate models

Tiny airborne particles in the Earth’s atmosphere affect its climate. But uncertainties regarding their impact can be greater than reckoned in climate models, according to new Norwegian research.

More heavy rains in the future

Increasingly powerful cloudbursts can wreak havoc in cities. Better measurements and climate models can help urban planners protect cities from wetter, wilder weather.

Changing climate can change building standards

Roofs in Norway have to be built to hold up under heavy loads of snow. But a warmer climate and less snow might mean a change in building standards for roofs that have to be built to last a century.

Unstable Atlantic can accelerate climate change

A warmer planet can destabilise an important oceanographic process in the North Atlantic called deep water formation. If deep water formation is affected, it will have a profound impact on global climate and precipitation.

Heat waves take a toll in Stockholm

High temperatures linked to climate change are already causing premature deaths in Stockholm. The elderly are most vulnerable.

Ocean acidification puts Norway in a pickle

Research since the last IPPC climate change report has provided further proof of mounting acidification of the oceans. Norwegian experts think the fifth IPPC assessment report, to be released in Stockholm this week, should be an eye-opener.

Counting copepod crap

A mind-boggling array of tasks forms the underpinning of our understanding of the factors that affect the climate, both now and as the planet warms. Danes aboard the Norwegian research vessel G.O. Sars are adding to this knowledge by counting specks of zooplankton faeces.