Latest news with #NorwegianArctic
eNCA
2 days ago
- Science
- eNCA
In Norway's Arctic, meteorologists have a first-row seat to climate change
In the cold of the Norwegian Arctic, meteorologist Trond Robertsen manually recorded precipitation levels for over two decades, witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change. At 66, Robertsen retired after enduring spartan conditions during missions that totalled eight years on two islands of the Svalbard archipelago: Bjornoya (Bear Island) and Hogen. To reach the remote Bjornoya, where the only humans are the nine employees of the small weather station, the meteorologists have to fly in by helicopter as they are rotated on a six-month basis. "The idea is to not stay too long, because it's a different rhythm, and you are isolated," Robertsen told AFP. It is demanding work. "It's a 24/7 occupation," he said. "We are doing it all day, all night." The team worked shifts to cover all hours of the day, he explained. AFP | Olivier MORIN Weather observation starts in the early morning at 6:00 am. "It's manually done, then you have to go outside and check the bucket that is collecting precipitation," said Robertsen. "During wintertime you have to melt the snow and ice into water" to determine how much has fallen. The data is then transmitted the Norwegian Meteorological Institute in Tromso and Oslo. "This tiny little observation is actually quite crucial for the weather forecasting systems up north, because observations are so sparse from that area." Bjornoya sits in the middle of fishing grounds, and the weather reports published twice a day are closely followed by the fishing boats in the area. - Less ice, fewer bears - Since his first missions to the Arctic in the 1990s, Robertsen has witnessed the changing climate. "When I started going up north, there was a lot of ice. In the later years, it's less ice and fewer polar bears. You can see the climate change," he said. Polar bears have been classified as a vulnerable population since 1982 on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species, with the loss of Arctic sea ice the most pressing threat against the species. However, their precise numbers, are almost impossible to assess. AFP | Olivier MORIN In winter, employees of station always venture out in pairs and have to be armed due to the presence of polar bears, but according to Robertsen it's rarer to encounter them today. In April, during his last mission to the island, Robertsen had an accident while doing carpentry: he slipped and ended up cutting one finger clean off and half of another. Due to tough weather conditions, he had to wait some 26 hours before being evacuated by helicopter and transported to a hospital. "It was a heavy snowstorm coming in, only the day after the helicopter came," he recounted. Looking back, Robertsen does not regret the years spent under the austere living conditions. "The Arctic has given me so many experiences and memories so it is a small fee to pay back with my left little finger and part of my ring finger," he said. By Olivier Morin With Johanna Wastfelt In Stockholm
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
In Norway's Arctic, Meteorologists Have A First-Row Seat To Climate Change
In the cold of the Norwegian Arctic, meteorologist Trond Robertsen manually recorded precipitation levels for over two decades, witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change. At 66, Robertsen retired after enduring spartan conditions during missions that totalled eight years on two islands of the Svalbard archipelago: Bjornoya (Bear Island) and Hogen. To reach the remote Bjornoya, where the only humans are the nine employees of the small weather station, the meteorologists have to fly in by helicopter as they are rotated on a six-month basis. "The idea is to not stay too long, because it's a different rhythm, and you are isolated," Robertsen told AFP. It is demanding work. "It's a 24/7 occupation," he said. "We are doing it all day, all night." The team worked shifts to cover all hours of the day, he explained. Weather observation starts in the early morning at 6:00 am. "It's manually done, then you have to go outside and check the bucket that is collecting precipitation," said Robertsen. "During wintertime you have to melt the snow and ice into water" to determine how much has fallen. The data is then transmitted the Norwegian Meteorological Institute in Tromso and Oslo. "This tiny little observation is actually quite crucial for the weather forecasting systems up north, because observations are so sparse from that area." Bjornoya sits in the middle of fishing grounds, and the weather reports published twice a day are closely followed by the fishing boats in the area. Less ice, fewer bears Since his first missions to the Arctic in the 1990s, Robertsen has witnessed the changing climate. "When I started going up north, there was a lot of ice. In the later years, it's less ice and fewer polar bears. You can see the climate change," he said. Polar bears have been classified as a vulnerable population since 1982 on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species, with the loss of Arctic sea ice the most pressing threat against the species. However, their precise numbers, are almost impossible to assess. In winter, employees of station always venture out in pairs and have to be armed due to the presence of polar bears, but according to Robertsen it's rarer to encounter them today. In April, during his last mission to the island, Robertsen had an accident while doing carpentry: he slipped and ended up cutting one finger clean off and half of another. Due to tough weather conditions, he had to wait some 26 hours before being evacuated by helicopter and transported to a hospital. "It was a heavy snowstorm coming in, only the day after the helicopter came," he recounted. Looking back, Robertsen does not regret the years spent under the austere living conditions. "The Arctic has given me so many experiences and memories so it is a small fee to pay back with my left little finger and part of my ring finger," he said.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Imposes Tariffs On Uninhabited Heard And McDonald Islands—‘Remotest Places On Earth'
President Donald Trump announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs Wednesday, targeting U.S. trade partners around the globe and even including small, uninhabited islands and other extremely remote areas in his lengthy list of tariffs. (Photo by MATT CURNOCK/AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION/AFP via Getty Images) According to the Trump administration's list, it will be imposing a 10% reciprocal tariff on the Heard and McDonald Islands—an external Australian territory a little less than 1,000 miles north of Antarctica. According to an informational guide to the islands on an Australian government website, they are considered to be 'one of the wildest and remotest places on Earth.' Other tariff targets include the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which have a population of less than 600, and the Norwegian Arctic islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen, the latter of which has no permanent population. Heard Island's land is dominated by Big Ben, a 1.7-mile tall volcano that has erupted at least three times since 2000, according to the BBC. McDonald island is much smaller than Heard and is surrounded by smaller islands, according to UNESCO. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. It is unclear how Trump's tariffs would impact the Heard and McDonald Islands, as they produce no economic activity outside of some extremely limited Australian commercial fishing that occurs in their economic zone. All of the over 180 countries on Trump's tariff list have baseline tariffs of 10%, though Canada and Mexico have been excluded from the rate as the U.S. may soon place a 25% tariff on most Canadian and Mexican imports. China took the largest hit from the Trump administration, which announced a 34% tax that will tack on to the 20% tariffs already placed on Chinese imports. The Heard and McDonald Islands are the only sub-Antarctic island group believed to have no known species introduced through humans, contributing to its status as one of the most pure ecosystems in the world and making it an important scientific research asset. The islands' ecosystems allow for scientists to have a baseline when monitoring the health of the larger Southern Ocean ecosystem. Animals on the islands include seals, penguins, albatrosses, invertebrates and seabirds known as petrels. Weather on the Heard and McDonald Islands is fast-changing, according to the Australian government, which notes 'unbelievably rapid changes in winds, cloud cover and precipitation' can occur. Here's The Full List Of Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Announced Wednesday (Forbes) Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariff Rates—54% For China, 20% On EU (Forbes)
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
First European orbital rocket launch fails, crashes into Norwegian ocean
March 30 (UPI) -- The first orbital rocket launched from Europe crashed less than a minute after it was launched Sunday, but operators still considered the mission a success. The German startup Isar launched the Spectrum rocket from Andøya spaceport in the Norwegian Arctic at 6:30 a.m. EDT in what the company called a test mission, but it began smoking and crashed back to Earth shortly after. "This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions," Isar said in a statement. "After the flight was terminated at T+30 seconds, the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner." It was the first attempt to launch a rocket from the European mainland and an effort to jump start the continent's move to join the burgeoning space race. Sweden and Britain have said they intend to enter the market for commercial spaceflight. Orbital rockets are typically used to transport satellites and other cargo into space and Europe has said it intends to become a center for such flights. Video of the uncrewed mission shows the rocket launching successfully amid Norway's jagged snow-covered mountains along the coast before it stopped accelerating, turned completely around, plummeted into the ocean and exploded. Officials, however, said the mission proved useful for the information gained. "Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure @isaraerospace will learn a lot. Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy!" European Space Agency's Director General, Josef Aschbacher posted on X. Severe Arctic weather had postponed the launch for more than a week. The mission was designed to collect data on the company's launch vehicle and was the first test of its integrated systems. The company said the Spectrum activated its rocket termination system about 30 seconds into the flight, which caused the craft to turn end for end, 180 degrees, and fall into a planned "safe zone" in the water.
