The polar region around the North Pole
Scientists and students are being trained to explore beneath Arctic and Antarctic ice to study climate change effects. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy's program, launched in 2024, aims to increase research capacity as polar ice melts rapidly, impacting global ecosystems and sea levels. Participants include scientists and aspiring polar explorers.
Scientists are training divers to explore beneath Arctic ice to better understand climate change impacts. Recent dives reveal fragile ecosystems, while Arctic sea ice levels hit near-record lows, highlighting rapid warming. These efforts aim to inform global climate policies amid accelerating ice melt.
Record‑level and near‑record May temperatures have been reported across multiple regions this week — parts of England and Russia have hit unusually high temps while the eastern US has recorded low‑90s — even as eastern Australia is facing a major rain band. Forecasts show brief, intense heat will give way to fronts or rain in most places; Australia is also seeing El Niño odds rise for winter.
Researchers funded by the UK government report that pumping seawater onto Arctic ice in Cambridge Bay thickened the surface ice by about 50 cm, offering early signs that refreezing could slow summer melt. The effort, part of Real Ice, is being monitored for long-term impacts on temperature and wildlife.
Australia and Canada have signed the first phase of a pact to share Over-the-Horizon Radar technology, extending radar coverage into the Arctic. The agreement, signed in Canberra, ties defense collaboration to the broader Five Eyes framework, with Australia providing the technology and Canada expanding Arctic surveillance.