Global Warming: Norwegian Arctic Archipelago Breaks Highest Temperature Record

Temperatures at Norway Arctic Archipelago Svalbard recorded 21.7 degrees Celsius on Friday, the highest temperature recorded since 1979, Norway's Meteorological Institute said.

For two consecutive days, the archipelago recorded 21.2 degrees Celsius (70.2 Fahrenheit) in the afternoon, a degree below 21.3 degrees (70.34 Fahrenheit) recorded in 1979, according to meteorologist Kristen Gislefoss.

At 6:00 p.m., local time, however, the temperature was at 21.7 degrees (71.06 Fahrenheit), breaking records.

A Twitter post from the Meteorological Institute said, "A 41-year-old record has been broken in Longyearbyen."

Longyearbyen, where most settlements in Svalbard are located, is the home to more than 2,000 people. It is located about 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole.

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Global Warming in Svalbard

A scientific study revealed that global warming would be most substantial in the Arctic, with warming happening twice as fast as the rest of the planet.

A recent report, "The Svalbard Climate in 2100," indicated that average temperature for the archipelago from 2070 and 2100 would increase by seven to 10 degrees brought about by the increased greenhouse gas emissions levels.

Last February, the Norwegian Center for Climate Studies said last February that since the early 1970s, average temperatures in Svalbard increased between three and five degrees Celsius. It could further rise by 10 degrees by 2100, should the greenhouse emissions continue to climb.

The increase in temperatures would thaw the frozen ground, causing structures like buildings, roads, and airports to collapse. High temperatures would also increase the incidences of landslides and avalanche.

In 2015, an avalanche destroyed ten houses in Longyearbyen, claiming the lives of two people.

The warming Svalbard also threatens polar bears and seals as the mentioned wildlife depends on sea ice cover to survive. Svalbard is known as the home of polar bears.

Svalbard is the home of the doomsday vault, a compact facility that collects stocks of seeds from all over the world since 2008. The facility was designed to protect seeds from any global disaster and ensure humanity's food supply forever. However, in 2017, global warming caused high temperatures over the winter that meltwater flooded the once-impenetrable facility entrance, and it froze into ice. The precious seeds remained unscathed, but the incident raised doubts on the vault's capacity to survive for humanity.

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More Projections for Future Climate in Svalbard

The Norwegian Environment Agency commissioned a study to a deeper understanding of the effect of climate change and climate change adaptation measures for Svalbard. Here are some of the projected changes from 1971-2000 to 2017-2100:

Air temperatures will increase to about 10 degrees Celsius for high emissions and seven degrees Celsius for medium emissions.
Annual rainfall will increase.
Massive rainfall events will be more intense and would happen frequently.
There will be more river flows, but the magnitude will depend on the rain, increased temperature, and glacier melt.
Shorter small season
Increased incidences of erosion and sediment transport
Frequent occurrences of avalanche and landslides
High emissions will cause near-surface permafrost in coastal and low-altitude areas.
By the 21st century, the glacier area and net mass balance will reduce dramatically.
A change of landscape and global sea-level rise is expected due to the loss of glacier area and mass.
The mean sea level around Spitsbergen may likely decrease due to considerable land uplift and reduced gravitational pull.