Editing Spitsbergen (section)

==Climate==
{{Main|Climate of Svalbard}}
[[File:Mountains (js) 11.jpg|thumb|left|Snow is common throughout the year.]]
The climate of Svalbard is dominated by its high latitude, with the average summer temperature at {{cvt|4|C|0}} to {{cvt|6|C|0}} and January averages at {{cvt|−12|C|0}} to {{cvt|−16|C|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://retro.met.no/observasjoner/svalbard/normaler_for_kommune_2111.html?kommuner |title=Temperaturnormaler for Spitsbergen i perioden 1961 - 1990 |publisher=[[Norwegian Meteorological Institute]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717125106/http://retro.met.no/observasjoner/svalbard/normaler_for_kommune_2111.html?kommuner |archive-date=17 July 2012 }}</ref> The [[North Atlantic Current]] moderates Spitsbergens's temperatures, particularly during winter, giving it up to {{cvt|20|C-change|0}} higher winter temperature than similar latitudes in Russia and Canada. This keeps the surrounding waters open and navigable most of the year. The interior fjord areas and valleys, sheltered by the mountains, have larger temperature differences than the coast, giving about {{cvt|2|C-change|0}} lower summer temperatures and {{cvt|3|C-change|0}} higher winter temperatures. On the south of Spitsbergen, the temperature is slightly higher than further north and west. During winter, the temperature difference between south and north is typically {{cvt|5|C-change|0}}, while about {{cvt|3|C-change|0}} in summer.<ref>Torkilsen (1984): 98–99</ref>

Spitsbergen is the meeting place for cold polar air from the north and mild, wet sea air from the south, creating low pressure and changing weather and fast winds, particularly in winter; in January, a strong breeze is registered 17% of the time at [[Isfjord Radio]], but only 1% of the time in July. In summer, particularly away from land, fog is common, with visibility under {{convert|1|km}} registered 20% of the time in July.<ref name=t101/> Precipitation is frequent but falls in small quantities, typically less than {{convert|400|mm}} annually in western Spitsbergen. More rain falls in the uninhabited east side, where there can be more than {{convert|1000|mm}} annually.<ref name=t101/>