Knowra Climate of the Arctic Climate of the Arctic The long-term pattern of temperature, precipitation, winds, and seasonal light across the Arctic. High latitude, sea ice, and polar circulation shape its strong seasonality and regional contrasts.
Polar night : The period when the Sun remains below the horizon for at least 24 hours in polar regions. Earth’s axial tilt creates months without direct sunlight across parts of the Arctic.
Albedo : The fraction of incoming radiation reflected by a surface. Bright snow and ice reflect sunlight, while darker ocean absorbs more energy.
Arctic climate change : Long-term changes in Arctic temperature, ice, snow, precipitation, and related environmental conditions. Observed change reveals how the region’s climate is shifting over time.
Kalaallit Nunaat ice sheet : The vast ice sheet covering most of Greenland, also known as the Greenland Ice Sheet. Its elevation and ice mass create climate conditions unlike those of nearby lowlands.
Arctic cloud feedback : The effect of clouds on Arctic warming through their reflection and absorption of radiation. Clouds can cool or warm the surface, and their changing effects remain difficult to quantify.
Midnight sun : The period when the Sun remains above the horizon for at least 24 hours in polar regions. Its continuous summer daylight contrasts with winter’s polar night.
Atmospheric circulation : The large-scale movement of air that redistributes heat, moisture, and momentum around Earth. Circulation transports heat and moisture into and out of the Arctic.
Arctic sea ice decline : The long-term reduction in the extent, thickness, and age of Arctic sea ice. The shrinking ice cover is a prominent indicator and consequence of Arctic warming.
Svalbard : A Norwegian Arctic archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Warm Atlantic water gives parts of Svalbard a milder climate than their latitude suggests.
Arctic precipitation projections : Model estimates of future Arctic rainfall and snowfall under changing climate conditions. Models project a wetter Arctic but differ on timing, amount, and regional distribution.
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