The red line indicates the median minimum extent of the ice cover for the period 1979–2000. This figure compares the Arctic sea ice extent in September for the years 1982 (the record maximum since 1979), 2005 and 2007 (the record minimum). The ice extent was 7.5 million km2 in 1982 and only 5.6 million km2 in 2005 and down to 4.3 million km2 in 2007. As has been observed in other recent years, the retreat of the ice cover was particularly pronoun...

Ringed seals are the 'classic' Arctic seal in many regards, being found as far north as the Pole because of their ability to keep breathing holes open in ice that can reach 2 metres in depth. This species is certainly one of the most vulnerable of the high-Arctic seals to the declines in the extent or quality of sea ice because so many aspects of their life-history and distribution are tied to ice. Ringed seals also require sufficient snow cover...

Modelling, using the GLOBIO1 model, over the Arctic, assessing the impacts on the environment based on infrastructure development between 1990 and 2050 in three different scenarios. The development of roads, pipelines and powerlines fragments the natural habitats and reduces the wilderness qualities.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) mainly Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), are brought into the Barents region and the whole of the Arctic region from many different locations.

The pollution from industrialized nations are affecting the environment in the Arctic region. The main areas of indutrial activity in the northern hemisphere are spreading to specific areas in the Arctic though air currents.

Arctic Ocean circulate in a large clockwise rotational pattern moving from east to west around the polar ice cap. This rotating pattern, known as a gyre, occurs as a result of the clockwise winds that typically occur in this region. The Barents region is affected by this and the ice edge extent in the Arctic.

Bird species that migrate to the Arctic coasts and wetlands arrive from nearly every corner of the planet. During the summer, the sun never or nearly never sets, resulting in a short but intensive breeding season when millions of migratory birds arrive in the Arctic to breed. The majority of these birds seek the wetlands and coastal shores of the tundra plains. No other place on Earth receives so many migratory species from nearly all corners of...

Sattelite observations of the september extent of sea ice in the Arctic shows in 2007 shows a 23% decrease from the previous minimum, in 2005, and 39% below the average minimum extent for the time period 1979-2000. The bottom part of this graphic shows the development according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) and the merging of five global climate models - the resultant projections shows sucessive decreases for this century. The Ar...

The Arctic has several of the world’s largest rivers.This graphic shows the major river systems of the Arctic and their annual discharges in cubic kilometres, and the catchment area of the Arctic Ocean. The major river systems shown are the Mackenzie, Yukon, Nelson, Kolyma, Indigirka, Lena, Kotya, Yenisey, Ob, Pechora, Severnyy and Dvina.

The marine animal food chain is very complex and multilayered as are most food chains. This is a quick reference to represent the complete food chain in regards to pelagic crustaceans and invertebrates.

The coastal Arctic food web is closely related to drift ice conditions and seasonal use of shorelines by both terrestrial and sea mammals. Numerous species depend upon each other and the transport of food to and from the marine areas to the coast and inland. Indigenous peoples use most of the food chain and traditionally use both environments for hunting, fishing and gathering.

Sattelite observations of the september extent of sea ice in the Arctic shows in 2007 shows a 23% decrease from the previous minimum, in 2005, and 39% below the average minimum extent for the time period 1979-2000. The bottom part of this graphic shows the development according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) and the merging of five global climate models - the resultant projections shows sucessive decreases for this century. The Ar...

The Arctic is extremely diverse in terms of landscapes, varying from pack and drift ice to rugged shores, flat coastal plains, rolling hills and mountains surpassing 6000 metres above sea level (Denali, 6,194 m asl, in sub-arctic and boreal Alaska). The region has rivers and lakes, tundra and the largest forests in the world (the Russian Taiga).

The Arctic region has varying levels of protected areas that correspond to different vegetation zones. This is from a report by Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Habitat Conservation Report No. 2.

In 1996 several areas were already protected by various agreements and several more were proposed, some were very early in construction as size and exact boundaries were not known. The area covers Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Northwest Russia.

Shows bathymetry and topography for the Arctic region as done for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Habitat Conservation Report No. 2: Proposed Protected Areas in the Circumpolar Arctic 1996.

This graphic includes marine protected areas and protected areas with major or minor marine components. This was part of the the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Habitat Conservation Report No. 2.

The areas that were protected in 1996 are shown on a complete map of the circumpolar area of the world along side with the proposed protected areas. The countries inclused in the information are: Canada, Finland, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and USA.

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Habitat Conservation Report No. 2 shows the areas in the Arctic which have been protected by various governmental treaties and declarations (As of 1996 IUCN classification).

Distribution of major vegetation zones and level of protection in the Arctic is shown based on the percentage of area covered. This is part of a report by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF).