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The Arctic

The global and strategic importance of the Arctic has increased in later years. The framework conditions for development in the Arctic are under constant change. Dramatic climate changes manifest themselves in this vulnerable region and there is growing demand for important resources from this area, such as seafood, minerals, oil, gas and other energy resources.

Due to its location and a longstanding relationship to the Arctic, Norway has a particular responsibility for both contributing to increased knowledge about the Arctic, and knowledge based sustainable management of resources in the area. Norway has a long tradition of exploring the Arctic and has thus developed a special interest and responsibility for polar research within a wide range of areas. International cooperation within Arctic research is essential in order to ensure a global perspective and the best possible management of the Arctic environment and resources.

Research news

Arctic infrastructure under risk from permafrost thaw, scientists warn Dec. 12, 2018 11:55 AM

The permafrost in the Arctic is thawing. Now a new study find that seventy percent of the current infrastructure in the Arctic in the next 30 years has a high potential to be affected by thawing permafrost. This despite if the climate change targets of the Paris Agreement is meet.
Hotspot volcanism on Greenland – A corridor in the North Atlantic forms volcanic landscape Nov. 16, 2018 3:20 PM

Volcanic activity primarily focuses at plate boundaries on Earth. But volcanoes can also form far away from plate boundaries due to plumes of hot material rising from the Earth’s deep interior. Eventually this material reaches the surface and breaks through the Earth’s crust to form a volcano – a so-called “hotspot”. Scientists now present a theory of how this type of hotspot activity can explain massive, past volcanic eruptions in Greenland and in the North Atlantic.