Donate

North Atlantic

Glaciologists say that between 1995 and 2010 Iceland’s glaciers lost about a meter of vertical thickness per year. The the “Blue Blob” appeared, halving that loss.

‘Blue Blob’ slows glacial melt in Iceland as temperatures rise across the globe

Environment

About 10% of Iceland is still covered by glaciers — what Icelanders call their “white diamonds.” Now, a mysterious patch of cold water in the North Atlantic Ocean, known as the “Blue Blob,” is helping slow down the rate at which these glaciers are melting. But scientists are concerned about how long this will last.

A female North Atlantic Right whale entangled in fishing gear

North Atlantic right whales are shrinking in size as they struggle to survive environmental havoc

Environment
North Atlantic right whale with calf in blue-green waters

Little time left to save the North Atlantic right whale

Environment
Northern right whales

Endangered right whales have moved because of climate change — into dangerous waters

Climate Change
Northern right whale with calf

The Northern right whale, already an endangered species, is in deep trouble

Environment
Nantucket erosion aerial

Nantucket’s bluffs and beaches are crumbling in the face of storms and rising seas

Environment

On Nantucket, homeowners are funding an extensive engineering project to save their houses from sliding into the sea. But no one knows how long the homes and the entire island can resist the forces of the sea and climate change.

The carcass of a right whale is prepared to be towed out to sea near Norway, Prince Edward Island.

Experts say ‘extinction is around the corner’ for Atlantic right whales

Environment

There have been a record 18 deaths and zero births of the species over the past year.

A man walks in the snow next to the Houses of Parliament in London on March 1. Brtain and much of the rest of Europe have been hit with a late winter blast linked to extreme warming in the Arctic.

Europe’s cold blast, Arctic’s heat wave are ‘two sides of the same coin’

Environment

While it’s been unusually cold and snowy in much of Europe, the Arctic has been seeing record warm temperatures and a huge loss of ice. Here’s how the two are linked, and what they might have to do with climate change.

A satellite image of Arctic sea ice fractures caused by the force of the Beaufort Gyre

Scientists are keeping a close eye on the Beaufort Gyre

Environment

The Beaufort Gyre, a key Arctic Ocean current that traps huge amounts of ice and cold freshwater, is behaving strangely. When it eventually discharges its contents, the event could begin a period of sharply lower temperatures in northern Europe.

Greenland's Sermilik fjord is choked with huge icebergs from one of the island's biggest glaciers. But climate researchers working in the fjord and on the Helheim glacier are looking for tiny clues in hopes of getting a better handle on how cliamte change

Looking small for big answers in Greenland

Environment

Scientists working in Greenland are looking for tiny clues to help fill in the big picture about the fate of the island’s giant ice pack. They’re using cutting edge technology to track minute changes that could help predict what a warmer future might hold for Greenland and the rest of the world.