Arctic Archives - Disasters News

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Warming world: 80% chance next five years break heat records

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Europe and the world are heading toward uncharted climate territory. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns there's now an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will break 2024’s record as the warmest year ever. Even more striking: there’s an 86% chance that at least one of those years will temporarily cross the critical 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement. While these temperature spikes may be short-lived, they’re still troubling. The latest WMO update, produced by the UK’s Met Office, forecasts a 70% chance that the 5-year average from 2025–2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels a sharp jump from 47% last year. The report stresses that every fraction of a degree matters, pushing the planet closer to climate tipping points. The Arc...

Apr72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Arctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Ever Winter Peak in 2025 Raising Alarms Over Global Climate Shifts

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The Arctic winter sea ice has hit an unprecedented low in 2025, reaching 14.33 million square kilometres the smallest winter maximum ever recorded since satellite monitoring began in 1979, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This year’s peak, reached on March 22 is lower than the previous record of 14.41 million sq km set in 2017 and a massive 1.32 million sq km below the 1981–2010 average. The "missing ice" area is larger than the entire state of California, a striking reminder of the planet’s rapid warming. At the same time, Antarctica clocked its second-lowest sea ice minimum 1.98 million sq km on March 1 making February 2025 the month with the least global sea ice coverage ever recorded. According to experts, this Arctic record is more than a s...

Feb252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Ocean Heat Waves Threaten Arctic Marine Mammals with Higher Mortality, Lower Reproduction: Study

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A new study has warned that Arctic and Subarctic marine mammals are facing rising mortality rates and declining reproductive success due to the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heat waves (MHWs). These extreme ocean temperature events, which can last for days or even years, pose a serious threat to species such as cetaceans, sea lions, seals, and walruses. The Arctic Ocean is projected to become a future hotspot for MHWs, with sea surface temperatures surpassing historical norms for extended periods. Scientists define an MHW as a temperature anomaly that exceeds the local 90th percentile threshold for at least five consecutive days. These heat waves have already been linked to widespread disruptions in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems. The study, published in Frontiers in ...

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Arctic Marine Mammals Facing High Mortality, Low Reproduction Due to Marine Heatwaves

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Marine mammals in the Arctic and Subarctic are suffering from increased mortality, reduced reproduction rates, and heightened vulnerability to disease due to marine heatwaves (MHWs), according to a new study. MHWs are periods of significantly elevated sea temperatures lasting from days to years, and the Arctic Ocean is predicted to be a future hotspot for such events. These temperature spikes can cover vast areas, ranging from a few kilometers to thousands. The study analyzed MHWs in the Bering and Barents Seas key pathways to the Arctic Ocean focusing on the 2017-2019 MHWs in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and the infamous 2014-2016 "Blob" in the northeast Pacific. Marine mammals like whales and sea lions often show delayed responses to MHWs due to their higher mobility and blubber ...

Jan202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Polar Vortex Sparks Arctic Freeze Across US: Could Its Effects Reach India?

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check

As a formidable polar vortex sweeps across the United States, millions of Americans brace for dangerously low temperatures and life-threatening conditions, marking the coldest weather of the season so far. This Arctic blast is set to engulf much of the country, with nighttime lows plummeting to -23°F (-31°C) in northern states and sub-zero wind chills predicted as far south as Texas and the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued urgent warnings about hypothermia, frostbite, and hazardous travel conditions due to snow and ice. Understanding the Polar Vortex The polar vortex is a large, low-pressure system of frigid air that typically circulates near the Earth's poles. During winter, this system can weaken and expand, displacing Arctic air into lower latitudes. This ...

Dec72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Shocking Study Claims Says Arctic Could Be Ice-Free by 2027

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The Arctic is on track to witness its first ice-free day as early as 2027, according to a study published in Nature Communications. Researchers from Colorado University Boulder and the University of Gothenburg revealed that the phenomenon, defined as the reduction of sea ice to less than one million square kilometers, signals a significant turning point in climate change. Arctic sea ice is already melting at an alarming rate of over 12% per decade, compared to its average extent between 1981 and 2010, as per NASA data. Using hundreds of climate simulations, the study predicts that while the first ice-free day may occur within the next 9 to 20 years, the most pessimistic scenario places this milestone just three years away. Once the first ice-free day occurs, it could last anywhere from ...

Dec62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Arctic May Experience Its First Ice-Free Day by 2027, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

The Arctic is on the brink of a dramatic environmental shift, with scientists predicting its first ice-free day as early as 2027, according to a study published in Nature Communications. Researchers from Colorado University (CU) Boulder and the University of Gothenburg have raised alarms about this milestone, which signifies sea ice shrinking to an area of 1 million square kilometers or less. Rapid Melting Trends Arctic sea ice is currently disappearing at an unprecedented rate of over 12% per decade, compared to its 1981-2010 average, NASA reports. By analyzing hundreds of climate simulations spanning from 2023 to 2100, researchers found that an ice-free Arctic is almost inevitable within 9 to 20 years, with the worst-case scenario placing this event just three years away. Implic...

Jun252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Dutch Startup’s Ambitious Plan to Restore Arctic Sea Ice Using Skating Rink Technology

Breaking News, Disasters, Tech

In an innovative attempt to address the critical issue of melting Arctic ice, a Dutch startup, Arctic Reflections, is exploring a technique traditionally used to create outdoor skating rinks. This approach involves flooding fields with thin layers of water to gradually build up ice, which could potentially be applied to the Arctic ice caps to combat their rapid decline. Melting Arctic Ice Crisis Arctic ice is shrinking by nearly 13% per decade, with scientists warning that ice-free summers in the Arctic could become a reality by 2050. This not only accelerates global warming due to the reduced albedo effect (where ice reflects sunlight back into space), but it also endangers polar bears' habitats and the lifestyles of Indigenous communities dependent on Arctic ecosystems. Fonger Y...