Assessment of climate change impact on the Arctic environment

Dr. Jan-Gunnar WintherDirector Norwegian Polar Institute

► Glaciers► Sea ice► Marine ecosystems

Midre Lovénbreen mass balance

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Winter Summer Net

Sea Ice Extent

- 11,2 % per decade?

Light gray shading indicates the region where ice occurred in both 2007 and 2010, while white and dark gray areas show ice cover unique to 2010 and to 2007, respectively

Sea Ice Extent, cont.

Sea Ice Thickness

BIOMASS

C. finmarchicus

C. glacialis

C. hyperboreus

(0.3 – 8.7 g DW m-2)

(0.1 – 30.6 g DW m-2)

(0.1 – 2.6 g DW m-2)

32 g

28 g

0.5 g

10 g

Søreide et al. 2008 DSR II

We must expect further change in the Arctic in future

Thank you for your attention!