Ice cover in the Sea of Okhotsk

Ice cover in the Sea of Okhotsk

In late March, 2012 sea ice hugged the shores of Russia’s Sakhalin Island and covered much of the Sea of Okhotsk. As spring brings increasing sunlight to the region, the ice will begin to break up and flow out to the Pacific Ocean. On March 23, the Japanese

Arctic sea ice maximum for 2012

Arctic sea ice maximum for 2012

Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent for the winter of 2011–2012 on March 18, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has announced. (Extent is the total area of ocean in which ice concentration is at least 15 percent.) With a total extent of 15.24 million

Unusual blue-green mass in Mackenzie Bay, Antarctic

Unusual blue-green mass in Mackenzie Bay, Antarctic

Off the northeastern edge of Antarctica’s Amery Ice Shelf lies Mackenzie Bay, which was painted with a ghostly blue-green mass in early February 2012. Icebergs sometimes interrupt flow of similarly colored tendrils northward across the ocean. Multiple factors

Two overnight avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Two overnight avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Indian army officials say two avalanches in snowbound regions of Indian-controlled Kashmir have killed at least three soldiers at 04:05 UTC on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Several more are feared trapped in a military camp that was partially buried under snow. Col….

Heavy marks of snow in northern Africa

Heavy marks of snow in northern Africa

The severe winter cold and snow that battered Europe over three weeks also left a heavy mark on Mediterranean coast of northern Africa. Eastern Atlas mountain region of northeastern Algeria and northwestern Tunisia likely caught the worst of the snow as heavy storm

How much snow is on the ground!?

How much snow is on the ground!?

Snow represents both a hazard and a water resource. Both require detailed assessments of snow amounts and depth. Traditional measuring devices such as snow gauges and yardsticks are often inadequate for capturing snow totals that may vary even within a single field or

Europe braces for new wave of polar cold

Europe braces for new wave of polar cold

A massive cold wave blamed for killing nearly 300 people will continue for portions of Europe, while the harshest cold will start to shrink for others next week. The cold will continue to keep a tight grip over much of Europe through this weekend with