Hordes of giant viruses are living on the world's second-largest body of ice — and may be slowing the impacts of climate change. Scientists announced the discovery in a recent paper on the Greenland ice sheet. Some of the viruses, they say, have infected algae, potentially limiting the growth of colored snow blooms that can speed up ice melt and raise global sea levels.

A small team of astronomers affiliated with several institutions in Japan, working with a pair of colleagues in the U.S., has solved the mystery of the unusually smooth aurora that appeared in the Arctic sky in December of 2022.

Every time you eat a blueberry, the microbiome in your gut gets to work. Bacterial enzymes attack the organic compounds of the fruit: a burbling, gurgling digestive process that can, often to our embarrassment, cause us to pass gas. That may not be such a big deal for a human, but new research shows that the microbial action in icy Arctic soils might not be so different. On a global scale, it could mean the planet belching up more dangerous greenhouse gases.

The Arctic Ocean is warming 4 times faster than the rest of the world’s oceans, a trend that could potentially spill over to the rest of the world in the form of altered weather patterns and other climate consequences. Efforts such as the Synoptic Arctic Survey are studying the Arctic Ocean to better understand ocean currents, in the hope of allowing scientists to better predict future changes.

The ice sheets near the Earth’s poles contain ancient ice formed from continuous snow accumulation over thousands of years. Using ice cores, scientists can study the old air trapped in the ice, which unlocks mysteries of Earth’s environmental history. Researchers from the University of California Irvine present this webinar from NSF Summit Station, Greenland as they study historical changes in atmospheric levels of hydrogen using a newly drilled ice core from the Greenland ice cap. Because of the unique challenges posed by hydrogen’s small molecular size, the researchers are bringing their instruments to Greenland to analyze samples as soon as they are retrieved!

The Coast Guard’s 17th District (USCG D17) Command Center is responsible for saving lives throughout the 4 million square miles of Alaska’s marine waters. How do they do it? Come hear how Lt. Cmdr. Kalankiewicz and the Command Center team plan, partner, and work with limited resources to save lives in the Bering Strait region and the rest of Alaska. Lt. Cmdr. Eddie Kalankiewicz is the Command Center Chief for the U.S. Coast Guard’s 17th District, headquartered in Juneau, Alaska. This event is part of the Strait Science series.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic and our Planet. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic and our Planet. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan.

Each year, AGU’s annual meeting, the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists, convenes 25,000+ attendees from 100+ countries to share research and connect with friends and colleagues. Scientists, educators, policymakers, journalists and communicators attend AGU24 to better understand our planet and environment, opening pathways to discovery, opening greater awareness to address climate change, opening greater collaborations to lead to solutions and opening the fields and professions of science to a whole new age of justice equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

The challenges of today go beyond deadlines decided by governments, territorial claims of oceans and lands, or borders drawn on a map. Addressing global issues requires collaborative efforts and swift decision-making. Dismantling the barriers between science, business, and policy is necessary to deepen communication and enhance our understanding of the pan-Arctic ecosystem. Modern challenges, such as the impacts of climate change, fostering sustainable development, and navigating political tensions, are deeply interconnected. Whilst the financial, societal, and environmental costs of the green transition will not be fairly distributed worldwide, the Arctic is part of the solution.

The Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS), Alaska’s premier marine research conference, has been bringing together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and interested public for over twenty years to discuss the latest marine research being conducted in Alaskan waters. Over 700 people attend this conference held annually during the month of January. Each day of the conference highlights important Alaskan marine ecosystems: Gulf of Alaska (Tuesday), Arctic (Wednesday), and the Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands (Thursday). Research topics discussed range from ocean physics, fishes and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, to local traditional knowledge. Since its inception, NPRB has been a proud sponsor and one of the leading organizers of AMSS.

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.