Polar News and Notes Monthly News Roundup

News from the polar regions in February included news of the many effects of climate change in the Arctic, surprising discoveries of fossils and marine species, and how Antarctica’s environment aided NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander project. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
Climate change continues to affect the Arctic region, leading to melting glaciers, […]

2008 tied with 2001 as the eighth warmest year on record, and climate change dominated polar news during the month of January.
A new comprehensive synthesis of past Arctic climates shows that temperature change is happening at a greater rate there than other places in the Northern Hemisphere. This warming is expected to continue, leading to […]

News from the polar regions during December 2008 included studies of methane and its role in climate change, new information about the role of polar bears and snowy owls in the Arctic ecosystem, trouble for the Wilkins Ice Shelf and an Antarctic cruise ship, and an astonishing fact about Antarctica’s biological diversity. Missed these stories […]

News from the polar regions in November 2008 included many climate change-related reports, the fifth largest ozone hole on record, new marine discoveries, and new polar research projects. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
Is the winter thinning of Arctic sea ice driving the summer record lows? That’s the question many scientists are asking. […]

News from the polar regions in October included further analysis of the summer Arctic sea ice melt, genetic discoveries in remarkable Antarctic fish, and preparations for a challenging Antarctic expedition. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
In September, we reported that the Arctic sea ice extent during the 2008 summer melt season dropped to […]

News from the polar regions in September included more worrisome news for Arctic sea ice, the potential role of permafrost in global warming, and new fossil discoveries in Antarctica. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
2008 was the second-lowest year in terms of summer Arctic sea ice coverage, a continuation of an accelerated downward […]

News from the polar regions in August includes alarming news for Arctic sea ice, polar bears, and Greenland’s massive glaciers and insights into Antarctica’s past climate and current response to global climate change. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
While news early in the month predicted that the 2008 Arctic sea ice minimum would […]

News from the polar regions in July includes efforts to better model and predict ice sheet dynamics and climate change, volcanic activity in the Arctic, and trouble for penguins and the marine species of the Southern Ocean. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
As part of an international scientific contest, some of the world’s […]

News from the polar regions in June includes speculation on the future of the Arctic sea ice and permafrost, unexpected behavior of an Antarctic ice stream, and new technology designed to assist in polar research. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
In May, we reported on an international, three-week expedition designed to validate the […]

News from the polar regions in May includes continued trouble for Arctic sea ice and the marine mammals that depend on it for survival, research efforts in the Arctic, and analysis from the past Antarctic field season. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
Data released from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that […]