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Arctic and Baltic Sea ice (CLIM 010) - Assessment published Nov 2012
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The extent and volume of the Arctic sea ice has declined rapidly since global data became available in 1980, especially in summer. Record low sea ice cover in September 2007, 2011 and 2012 was roughly half the size of the normal minimum extent in the 1980s.
In the period 1979-2011, the Arctic has lost on average 45 000 km 2 of sea ice per year in winter and 91 000 km 2 per year at the end of summer. The decline in summer sea ice appears to have accelerated since 1999.
Arctic Sea ice is projected to continue to shrink in extent and thickness and may even disappear at the end of the summer melt season in the coming decades. There will still be substantial ice in winter.
Baltic Sea ice, in particular the extent of the maximal cover, is projected to shrink.
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Arctic and Baltic Sea ice
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Arctic ice cover in September 2007
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The extent of the summer sea ice in September 2007 reached a historical minimum, 39 % below the climatic average for the first two decades of satellite observations (red line)
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Arctic sea ice (CLIM 010) - Assessment published Sep 2008
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The extent of the sea ice in the Arctic has declined at an accelerating rate, especially in summer. The record low ice cover in September 2007 was roughly half the size of the normal minimum extent in the 1950s. The summer ice is projected to continue to shrink and may even disappear at the height of the summer melt season in the coming decades. There will still be substantial ice in winter. Reduced polar ice will speed up global warming and is expected to affect ocean circulation and weather patterns. Species specialised for life in the ice are threatened. Less ice will ease access to the Arctic's resources. Oil and gas exploration, shipping, tourism and fisheries will offer new economic opportunities, but also increase pressures and risks to the Arctic environment.
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Arctic sea ice
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Areas of possible establishment of Aedes albopictus (the tiger mosquito) in Europe for 2010 and 2030
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Developed by Francis Schaffner (BioSys Consultancy, Zurich), in partnership with Guy Hendrickx/Ernst-Jan Scholte (AviaGIS, Zoersel, Belgium) and Jolyon M Medlock (Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom) for the ECDC TigerMaps project
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Areas of possible establishment of Aedes albopictus (the tiger mosquito) in Europe for 2010 and 2030
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Developed by Francis Schaffner (BioSys Consultancy, Zurich), in partnership with Guy Hendrickx/Ernst-Jan Scholte (AviaGIS, Zoersel, Belgium) and Jolyon M Medlock (Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom) for the ECDC TigerMaps project
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Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations (CSI 013) - Assessment published Oct 2005
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The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), the main greenhouse gas, has increased by 34 % compared with pre-industrial levels as a result of human activities, with an accelerated rise since 1950. Other greenhouse gas concentrations have also risen as a result of human activities. The present concentrations of CO 2 and CH 4 have not been exceeded during the past 420 000 years and the present N 2 O concentration during at least the past 1 000 years. IPCC (2001) baseline projections show that greenhouse gas concentrations are likely to exceed the level of 550 ppm CO 2 -equivalent in the next few decades (before 2050).
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Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations
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Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations (CSI 013) - Assessment published Apr 2008
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The global average concentrations of various greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere reached their highest levels ever recorded, and continue increasing. The combustion of fossil fuels from human activities and land-use changes are largely responsible for this increase. The concentration in 2006 of the six greenhouse gases (GHG) included in the Kyoto Protocol has reached 433 ppm CO2 equivalent, which is an increase of 155 ppm compared to the pre-industrial level. Considering all GHGs (incl. ozone and various cooling aerosols), the concentration is 393 ppm CO2 equivalents, which is 115 ppm higher than in pre-industrial times. The concentration of CO2 - the most important greenhouse gas - has reached in 2006 a level of 381 ppm, showing an increase of 103 ppm compared to the pre-industrial level. Under the IPCC scenarios the overall concentration of the six Kyoto gasses is projected to increase up to 638-1360 ppm CO2 -equivalent by 2100, whereas the concentration of all GHGs may increase up to 608-1535 ppm CO2 -equivalent. The global atmospheric GHG concentration of 450 ppm CO2-equivalent may be exceeded between 2015 and 2030.
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Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations
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Atmospheric Kyoto greenhouse gas concentration (in CO2-equivalents) between 1990 and 2100
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Baseline (blue line), EEA climate action scenario (green line), compared with four IPCC (SRES) scenario's (described in IPCC's Special Report on Emissions Scenario's, 2000) (grey lines).
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Average annual changes in fire danger level 1958-2006
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Based on use of Seasonal Severity Rating (SSR)
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Average annual runoff
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Notes: Map prepared at a 10 km x 10 km grid resolution, showing average run-off with some smoothing of local detail
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