Spring Arrived Earlier Than Ever Before: "In Svalbard, it's So Bad That We Can't Do Our Job"

Excerpt and Photo from sciencenorway.no

The Arctic spring has arrived earlier than ever before.

"In Svalbard, it's so bad that we can't do our job," researcher Eirik Malnes tells Science Norway.

Researchers describe this year's spring as one of the most unpredictable and demanding they have ever experienced.

"This year’s spring has arrived exceptionally early," says Malnes, who works at the research institute NORCE.

As a result, three international research teams have encountered serious obstacles in their fieldwork.

Polish researchers have been completely unable to reach their field sites, while researchers from Norway and Italy are still struggling with a lack of snow, rapid melting, and unstable conditions.