Summer climate
Climate changes in the Arctic are now occurring 3-4 times faster than the global average. The July temperature in the inner and higher elevation parts of the Varanger Peninsula has increased by nearly 1 degree Celsius per decade since 1990.
This has resulted in large areas of low Arctic tundra already having a climate suitable for forest. Read more about forest and tree line here.
Trends in July temperature between
1991-2019 measured as change in
degrees Celsius per year.
Changes in the area of different climate zones in East Finnmark between the periods 1961-1990 and 2011-2018.
Zone F - which has a climate suitable for forest (average temperature over 12°C in July) - has increased significantly, while zone D (average temperature below 10°C in July) is only found in a few places.
WINTER CLIMATE
The number of mild weather days in midwinter in Varanger has increased by an average of 10 days since 1990. The more frequent alternations between mild weather and frost mean that the snow cover often becomes icy and hard.
This creates problems for small rodents and reindeer that feed on plants on the tundra. Days with severe cold – defined as temperatures lower than -30°C – are almost non-existent in East Finnmark anymore.
Read more about how small rodents and reindeer are affected by climate change.
Alternations between mild weather and cold
in midwinter can cause a tundra covered in ice.
Photo: Jan Erik Knutsen
The area with frequent extreme cold in East Finnmark – defined as -30°C or colder – has significantly decreased in the period 1991-2019 compared to the period 1961-1990.