Editing Svalbard (section)

== Climate ==
{{Main|Climate of Svalbard}}
[[File:Spitzbergen-2 hg.jpg|thumb|[[Spitsbergen]] in August]]

The climate of Svalbard is dominated by its high latitude, with the average daily mean summer temperature at {{convert|4|to|7|C|0}} (1991–2020 averages), and January averages at {{convert|−13|to|−9|C|0}} (1991–2020). The more southern Bear Island has January mean temperatures as mild as {{convert|−4.6|C|0}} in the 1991–2020 base period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://retro.met.no/observasjoner/svalbard/normaler_for_kommune_2111.html?kommuner |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717125106/http://retro.met.no/observasjoner/svalbard/normaler_for_kommune_2111.html?kommuner |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=Temperaturnormaler for Spitsbergen i perioden 1961–1990 |publisher=[[Norwegian Meteorological Institute]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |language=no }}</ref>

The [[West Spitsbergen Current]], the northernmost branch of the [[North Atlantic Current]] system, moderates Svalbard's temperatures, particularly during winter. Winter temperatures in Svalbard are up to {{convert|20|C-change|0}} higher than those at similar latitudes in Russia and Canada. The warm Atlantic water 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 {{convert|2|C-change|0}} warmer summer temperatures and {{convert|3|C-change|0}} colder winter temperatures.<ref name="auto1">Torkilsen (1984): 98–99</ref>

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 {{convert|5|C-change|0}}, and about {{convert|3|C-change|0}} in summer. [[Bear Island (Norway)|Bear Island]] has average temperatures even higher than the rest of the archipelago.<ref name="auto1"/>

Svalbard is where cold [[Polar Air Mass|polar air]] from the north and mild, wet sea air from the south meet, creating low pressure, changeable weather and strong 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, [[fog]] is common, particularly off the coast, with visibility under {{convert|1|km|1}} registered 20% of the time in July and 1% of the time in January, at Hopen and Bjørnøya.<ref name=t101 />

Precipitation is frequent, but falls in small quantities, typically less than {{convert|400|mm}} per year in western Spitsbergen. More rain falls on the uninhabited east side, where there can be more than {{convert|1000|mm}}.<ref name=t101 /> On average, Svalbard has lower [[humidity]] than other places in the [[Arctic Circle]]. The only places in the Arctic with a lower average are in mainland [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

2016 was the warmest year on record at Svalbard Airport, with a remarkable mean temperature of {{convert|0.0|C}}, {{convert|7.5|C-change}} above the 1961–90 average, and more comparable to a location at the Arctic Circle. The coldest temperature of the year was as high as {{convert|-18|C}}, warmer than the mean minimum in a normal January, February or March. In the same year, the number of days when there was rainfall equalled the number of days when there was snowfall, a significant deviation from the usual pattern whereby there would be at least twice as many snow days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/2016/ws-10080.html|title=Climate Svalbard Lufthavn (Year 2016) – Climate data (10080)|first=Tutiempo Network|last=S.L.|work=tutiempo.net|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108094116/http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/2016/ws-10080.html|archive-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

[[Global warming]] has resulted in noticeable climatic changes on Svalbard. Between 1970 and 2020, the average temperature on Svalbard rose by 4 degrees Celsius, and in the winter months by 7 degrees.<ref name="HanssenBauer">{{cite web |first1=I. |last1=Hanssen-Bauer |first2=E.J. |last2=Førland |first3=H. |last3=Hisdal |first4=S. |last4=Mayer |first5=A.B. |last5=Sandø |first6=A. |last6=Sorteberg |date=2019 |title=Climate in Svalbard 2100: A knowledge base for climate adaptation. |url=https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/globalassets/publikasjoner/M1242/M1242.pdf |issn=2387-3027 |publisher=Norwegian Environment Agency |access-date=27 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905023401/https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/globalassets/publikasjoner/M1242/M1242.pdf }}</ref> On 25 July 2020, a new record temperature of {{convert|21.7|C}} was measured for the Svalbard archipelago, which is also the highest temperature ever recorded in the European part of the High Arctic; in addition, temperatures of over 20 degrees were measured four days in a row in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/highest-ever-temperature-recorded-in-norwegian-arctic-archipelago-1.5039492|title=Highest-ever temperature recorded in Norwegian Arctic archipelago|work=CTV News|date=26 July 2020|access-date=27 August 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009003957/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/highest-ever-temperature-recorded-in-norwegian-arctic-archipelago-1.5039492}}</ref>

As in large parts of the Arctic, the [[ice–albedo feedback]] effects can also be noticed on Svalbard: Due to the substantial ice melt, ice surfaces are transformed into open water, the darker surface of which absorbs more solar energy instead of reflecting it back; as a result, these waters heat up and further ice in the area melts faster and faster, creating more open waters, etc. A temperature increase of between 7 and 10 degrees is expected on Svalbard by the end of the century.<ref name="HanssenBauer" />