Arctic Watch

Facts About the Arctic

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    A map of the Arctic illustrating the location and proximity, and therefore the importance, of both Aleutian Islands and Kuril Islands to Arctic maritime discussions. Photo: Japan Consortium for Arctic Environmental Research
    Analysis

    Rising Sun in the Warming Arctic: As Great Power Competition Returns to the Polar Region, Japan Is Positioned for Prominence

    Japan’s experiences during this stretch of historic northward territorial and maritime expansion inform, to a considerable extent, its understanding of the current great power competition (GPC) dynamics in the region

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    Northern hemisphere total column ozone, potential vorticity on the 460 K potential temperature surface, and temperature on the 50 hPa pressure surface for 22 February 2011. The white lines with arrows on the PV image are streamlines, where the thickness of the streamlines and the size of the arrows indicate the strength of the local flow. (NASA Ozone Watch)
    Climate

    Scientists investigate Arctic warming’s impact on polar vortex

    Researchers are focused on how rising temperatures at the North Pole may be disrupting the vortex and allowing arctic air to spill into lower latitudes.

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    NOAA’s Barrow Observatory, situated north of the city center, overlooks the Chukchi Sea. (Photo courtesy of Judith Garfield)
    Analysis

    Aerosols can make clouds cool: Climate change in the Arctic

    Aerosols for Arctic are important because they may cause warming or cooling, either directly by reflecting or absorbing radiation, or indirectly by making cloud.

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    Uncategorized

    Facts About the Arctic in April 2026

    In early April JAXA Arctic sea ice extent is 3rd lowest for the date, albeit in a “statistical tie” with last year: The Alfred Wegener Institute’s regional extent graphs reveal an intriguing divergence on the Pacific periphery, where sea ice extent…

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    Source: Arctic Council
    Analysis

    Arctic Shipping Increased to Record High in 2025

    The increase in shipping coincides with diminishing sea ice in the Arctic.

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    Credits: Anadolu Agency
    Analysis

    Arctic shortcut or strategic challenge? Experts question Northern Sea Route’s promise

    Melting Arctic ice has revived interest in northern trade routes as Asia–Europe shortcuts, but experts warn they remain risky, unreliable, commercially limited.

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    From left: Barents Observer's Thomas Nielsen, Sian Prior from Clean Arctic Alliance, Bellona's Ksenia Vakhrusheva, The American Sunlight Project's Head of Analysis Benjamin Schultz, and Bellona's Yuri Sergeev. Photo: Bellona.
    Analysis

    Arctic Frontiers: Disinformation, Security and the Northern Sea Route

    Disinformation about the Northern Sea Route is shaping both the environmental debate and the security picture in the Arctic.

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    The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska in the Western Arctic supports unique wildlife habitat and is considered to be an area of global ecological significance. (Kiliii Yuyan for Earthjustice)
    Industry

    Lawsuit Challenges Massive Oil and Gas Sale Over Harms to Western Arctic Public Lands and the Climate 

    Vast natural areas long protected from extraction will now be offered to oil companies for drilling

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    Industry

    Expanded Arctic Drilling Faces a Wave of Lawsuits

    Now, a second Trump administration is backing a relentless effort to open access in Arctic to oil companies even in areas local Iñupiat people consider most vulnerable to disturbance.

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