Historically, Arctic communities have had thick layers of sea ice to help buffer those storms, but that protection is disappearing.
"Sea Ice"
Bill would give Alaskans an advisory role in Arctic shipping
A proposed 15-member committee would advise Congress and the Transportation secretary, and give Alaskans and coastal residents a voice as the sea ice recedes and marine traffic increases.
Heavy storms set to hit Northwest Arctic will likely disrupt fragile sea ice
While the storms are nothing new for this time of year, they are likely to disrupt sea ice in the region, which is forming at a much slower rate due to an abnormally warm year.
Study finds marine mammal viruses are traveling between oceans as sea ice recedes
While this particular virus isn’t doing widespread damage, its emergence opens the door for other viruses to pop up between oceans.
As sea ice changes in a warming Arctic, new challenges for polar bear research
“There’s probably going to be a greater amount of uncertainty with some of the information that we’re able to provide, because it’s simply not going to be as precise as it used to be,” said wildlife biologist Todd Atwood.
In Utqiaġvik, learning about climate change includes studying your backyard
“They get the traditional, ecological perspective on sea ice and how it’s changing and shifting from the whaling crews and whaling captains,” teacher Kevin Neyhard said. “And then … we drill cores through the ice to learn about it from that perspective.”
Storms erode Bering Sea ice pack; caution is urged
Winter storms and blustery weather buffeting the Bering Sea this month have reduced sea ice coverage by almost 25% since late January. Sea ice in the Bering Sea is typically solid and stable this time of year, but scientists and communities are observing large areas of open water, and where there is ice, much of it is shifting.
August storms prompt North Slope Borough to file disaster declaration
Emergency Manager Heather Seeman says she’s concerned about the storm season ahead.
In Kaktovik, sea ice loss means a boom in polar bear tourism
That’s when outsiders started showing up in Kaktovik: tourists, who wanted to see polar bears before they went extinct.
Ask a Climatologist: The connection between sea ice and global weather
In the past, climate models have struggled to connect ocean conditions with what happens in the atmosphere. But two new studies do a much better job describing that link.