Climate characteristics of Svalbard based on circumpolar climate comparison

Abstract

The climate characteristics of Svalbard are reviewed, based on a circum-polar climate comparison. From the Data Report by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, climate characteristics of Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, the Japansese where National Institute of Polar Research has an established observation station, are shown. Its climate is characterized by a smaller annual range of air temperature, large annual precipitation, and as maritime Arctic. From the long range variation of temperature since 1910s, a temperature rise in 1910s and 1920s is clear; however, that in the last 30 years has been only minor. In order to explain these characteristics, the distribution of climate parameters is examined. The Svalbard region is characterized by entrance and exit of atmosphere and ocean fluxes, and as the center of the stratospheric polar vortex. Also, recent climate changes in the Arctic including the air temperature rise and Arctic Oscillation (AO) are introduced.