Scientists discover anti-plastic microbes in the Alps and Arctic
Finding, cultivating, and bioengineering organisms that can digest plastic not only aids in the removal of pollution, but is now also big business. Several microorganisms that can do this have already been found, but when their enzymes that make this…
A slow start to the Arctic spring
The rate of sea ice loss for April 2023 was slow, owing to cool conditions across the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and below-average to near-average temperatures near the ice edge. Antarctic sea ice extent remained sharply below average throughout the month. Overview…
Analysis: Fears mount for the Arctic
For nearly three decades, the Arctic Council has been a successful example of post-Cold War cooperation.
Facts About the Arctic in April 2023
Arctic sea ice extent in early April is singularly unexceptional. Here’s the AWI AMSR2 version: Things start to become more interesting when looking at the third dimension. Here’s the PIOMAS gridded thickness map for March 31st: and the CryoSat-2/SMOS map…
From polar dawn to dusk
Sunlight has returned to the highest latitudes in the Arctic, while in the Antarctic autumn is settling in. The seasonal decline of Arctic sea ice extent since the March 6 annual maximum has been slow, but daily extent has remained…
Arctic sea ice maximum at fifth lowest on satellite record
Arctic sea ice has likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 14.62 million square kilometers (5.64 million square miles) on March 6. The 2023 maximum is the fifth lowest in the 45-year satellite record. NSIDC scientists will present a detailed analysis of…
Facts About the Arctic in March 2023
We’ll come on to the Arctic in a moment, but at more temperate latitudes I am proud to announce that my Cornish alter ego has been officially outed as an “environmental campaigner” by the BBC. Moving pictures of yours truly,…
The 2023 Maximum Arctic Sea Ice Extent
March has arrived, so it’s time to start taking a serious look at where and when the 2023 maximum Arctic sea ice extent will occur. To start with here’s Zack Labe’s overview of previous years’ maxima: Zack’s graph displays the…
New Record Antarctic Sea Ice Minimum Extent
I should of course add “in the satellite era”, but the title is pretty unwieldy as it is! I was up early (UTC) to check the latest JAXA data, and sure enough that confirmed a new record minimum Antarctic sea…