Arctic Methane Skyrocketing

The map below shows observatories in the Arctic.'Arctic methane skyrocketing' is the title of a video by Paul Beckwith discussing recent rises in methane levels in the Arctic.Paul's description: "I discuss how ground level flask measurements of methane have been spiking upwards over the last few years. I analyze the implications...

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Arctic Sea Ice in Uncharted Territory

On May 27, 2015, Arctic sea ice extent was merely 11.973 million square kilometers, a record low for the time of the year since satellite started measurements in 1979. This fall in sea ice extent follows heat waves in Alaska and the north of Canada, as illustrated by the image below.Temperature in Alaska on the afternoon of...

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Sleeping Giant in the Arctic

Huge amounts of carbon are contained in sediments, soils and vegetation in the Arctic. Rising temperatures in the Arctic threaten to cause much of this carbon to be released to the atmosphere.On May 23, 2015, temperatures in Alaska were as high as 91°F (32.78°C), as illustrated by the image below.[ image credit: US National...

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Arctic Sea Ice At Historic Low

On May 20, 2015, Arctic sea ice extent was only 12.425 million square km, a record low for the time of the year since satellite measurements began in 1979.As the Arctic Sea Ice is at a historic low, Alaska faces temperatures as high as 31°C (87.8°F), as illustrated by the image below.How is it possible for temperatures to get...

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Mackenzie River Warming

On May 12, 2015, a temperature of 80.1°F (or 26.7°C) was recorded in the north of Canada, at a location just north of latitude 63°N.High temperatures in such locations are very worrying, for a number of reasons, including:They are examples of heatwaves that can increasingly extend far to the north, all the way into the Arctic...

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Monthly CO2 Levels Above 400ppm

For the first time since modern records began, monthly mean carbon dioxide levels were above 400 parts per million (ppm), as illustrated by the NOAA image below. NOAA just released the mean global carbon dioxide level for March 2015, which was 400.83 ppm.Arctic Ocean hit hardCarbon dioxide concentrations can be especially high,...

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