Extreme summer heat caused record melting in Svalbard - Earth.com

Extreme summer heat caused record melting in Svalbard

12-09-2022

Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency illustrates record melting across Svalbard, an island nation located about halfway between Norway and the North Pole. This region, which is warming faster than nearly anywhere else on the planet, experienced unusually high temperatures in summer 2022.

“This summer saw exceptionally warm air temperatures in Svalbard according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. An average of 7.4 °C was recorded in June, July and August compared to the 5.5°C average recorded during the 1991-2020 period. The heatwave caused exceptional levels of melting, which ultimately contributes to sea level rise,” says ESA.

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is made up of nine main islands. The largest of these islands are Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, and Edgeøya.

Video/ Image Credit: ESA

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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