Svalbard

Question: Recently in news Svalbard Island, which is facing extreme consequences of climate change on the Earth is located in?
(a) Maldives
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Norway
(d) Indonesia
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • According to the recent findings Svalbard located in Norway is facing extreme consequences of climate change.
  • Svalbard’s main town Longyearbyen which is northern-most town on the planet is the fastest-warming town on the earth.
  • It is the result of rising sea level of Arctic sea due to Global Warming
  • Longyearbyen is the de facto capital of the Svalbard archipelago located between Norway and the North Pole.
  • According to a report by the Norwegian Environment Agency released in February-2019, temperatures in the town have risen by 4 degrees Celsius since 1971.
  • That is five times faster than the global average. During winters, the temperature has gone up by 7°C.
  • Researchers have estimated that Longyearbyen and Svalbard’s temperature will increase by 10°C by 2100, according to current trends.
  • The recent heat wave in Europe is an example that can explain the condition of Svalbard.
  • Experts are blaming it on the disruption of a system known as the jet stream.
  • Since 1979, the Arctic sea ice extent has declined by nearly 12% per decade, with the most pronounced winter reduction in Svalbard and the Barents Sea area.

Links:
https://in.reuters.com/article/climate-change-svalbard/on-the-front-lines-of-climate-change-in-the-worlds-northernmost-town-idINKCN1VO1A3
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/world-s-northernmost-town-now-its-fastest-warming-too-65411