Record termperatures in Norway's Arctic

Record warmth for Svalbard: – We see the glaciers retreat

Svalbard has never had such a mild summer this year, reports the Norwegian Meteorological institute. People in Town are very worried about the pleasant summer temperatures

Varmerekord for Svalbard: – Vi ser jo breene trekke seg tilbake

NRK,

27 August, 2015

Via Yandex translate.

 – Svalbard airport, with the measurements back to the mid-1970s, has never before had such a mild summer, " says Jostein Mamen by the Norwegian Meteorological institute.

The tour guide on Svalbard, Runa Solvang confirms that it has been hot.

– It has been lovely to sit out in the sun and eat breakfast, but at the same time, there has been a nasty feeling. It is not the way it should be, " she says.

Since augustmåned not completely end, the average temperature will probably go down to 6,6-6,8, think Mamen.

Currently, the record is 6,4 average from the summer of 2007.

Also other stations on Spitsbergen, for example Isfjord radio, Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund has been very mild in the summer. The latter two are predicted to record, says the meteorologist.

Mamen explains the high temperatures that it in general has been relatively warm long over the Arctic in summer.

The tour guide on Svalbard, Runa Solvang, says the heat affects dogs negative.  PHOTO: LINDA PEDERSEN / NRK

Difficult for dogs

Dog owner Solvang tells that at times it was difficult for polar dogs.

– It has at times been too hot for them, I have heard about dogs who have died of heat stroke, " says Scott while she fools around with Greenland's dogs, 9 year old Loki. Today, he's enjoying his in light fog and cooler temperatures.

Solvang does not use the dog to tourists, she is a guide for a new turistprosjekt in Longyearbyen, namely, to show off the mining history in the abandoned mine 3. And there she is happy.

Veteran

67-year-old Karl Vatvik who came to Svalbard in 1973 and thus has followed the developments long, nodding that it has been a warm summer, but he is still far more worried about the high temperatures during the winters.

– The average temperature increases, havtemperaturen rises and the result is that we see that both the glaciers and the sea ice decreases. We can often not run the usual vinterveiene over the ice, " says Vatvik that driver Svalbard Villmarkssenter, which among other things offers dog sledding.

– We see it in the sea too – that higher temperatures lead to more fish here. Now we have everything, mackerel, pollack, saithe and salmon and trout. Whales, we also see a lot more than before, " he says.

– I notice good changes, especially the last 20 years, " says the veteran, who until 1985 worked in the mines on Svalbard.

The heat of the summer is not completely unproblematic.   PHOTO: JAN-MORTEN BJØRNBAKK / SCANPIX

Three generations

There are not so many on Svalbard, which has to be a resident for so long. Now includes the family Vatvik three generations.

The son Tarjei (27) with the exception of three years in Mainland Norway, has lived his whole life on Svalbard, also marks well the differences.

– We see the glaciers retreat, " he says.

Meteorologist Mamen says that last year's winter, i.e. 2013/14, the mildest of which is registered on the Svalbard airport. Then follow 2011/12, 2005/06 and 2004/05, while this year's winter ports on the 13. space.