Russia continues to use the Arctic as an expanding transport corridor for its hydrocarbon resources. Last year it carried 21.86 million tons of liquefied natural gas along the Northern Sea Route, the main shipping lane. This represents an increase of 8.6 percent or 1.73 million tons over the previous year.

Army 2nd Lt. Emily Rief, concealed by a whitened camouflage tent and the cover of a nondescript patch of pine forest blanketed by powdery snow, tracked enemy movements with cutting-edge technology. She also had an analog board that would have looked familiar in the mid-20th century, because technology sometimes fails when the thermometer reading plummets below -20 F.

Scientists from Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed Russia’s first system for monitoring climate-active substances in the Arctic Ocean, local media reported on Friday. “The system integrates both shipborne and autonomous environmental observation platforms. A key component of this newly developed system is the Sea-Air-Wave Station (SAWS), which was successfully tested during last year’s Arctic expedition,” TASS news agency quoted the press service of the institute as saying.

Look, all somewhat positive climate news has to be placed in the context of the ongoing global climate crisis, but this week, researchers did report a new simulation suggesting that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is unlikely to shut down within this century. Engineers developed a new flat telescope lens that captures color while detecting light from distant stars, minimizing some of the tradeoffs inherent to traditional lenses. 

For over a quarter-century, the Nome National Forest sprouted every year as old Christmas trees and wooden cutouts were placed onto the sea ice in front of Nome for months of late winter and spring. But last week, the cheerful snowmen and trees were dramatically lost, as the shorefast ice near Nome broke off unprecedently early. But what is more troubling than Christmas trees floating off into the distance is that weak sea ice may be a harbinger of trouble for the region’s ecosystem.

Emergency management in the Arctic is a fast-changing landscape. There have been many developments to emergency prevention, preparedness and response, while at the same time, risk factors and environmental and social conditions are rapidly changing. This event is hosted by the Arctic Council.

In lead up to its 35th anniversary in 2025, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is coordinating a multi-year planning process for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) that will engage Arctic researchers, policymakers, residents, and stakeholders from around the world to collegially discuss the state of Arctic science, the place the Arctic occupies in global affairs and systems, to consider the most urgent knowledge gaps and research priorities that lie before us and to explore avenues to address these research needs. This event is hosted by a consortium of US institutions, including the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Northern Iowa, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Alaska Pacific University. ICARP I, II, and III focused the attention of the world’s researchers toward the value of strategic international coordination in accelerating progress in addressing critical challenges. ICARP IV will build upon this concept by striving to achieve consensus and build collaborations among the leading scientific, academic, environmental, Indigenous and political organizations currently concerned with Arctic issues.

Arctic Encounter, North America’s leading conference on Arctic policy and business, annually gathers over 1,000 participants from more than two dozen countries. As a nonprofit NGO, Arctic Encounter convenes and hosts dialogues and policy debates among international leaders, business executives, Indigenous representatives, federal agencies, diplomats, scientists, and policymakers. Hosted in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, the event offers participants a unique blend of arts, culture, and critical discussions, contributing to a deeper understanding of Arctic challenges and opportunities.