Covers key findings, regional climate features and tropical cyclones.  2012 joined the ten previous years as one of the warmest on record.  From the World Meterological Organization

Describes the current state of the U.S. icebreakers, the budget prospects for improvements, and how polar icebreaking should be handled in the future.   From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Sounds an alarm about damage to the polar icecaps.  As sea ice melts (it was 18% below previous recorded minimums in the summer of 2012), a rush to exploit natural resources creates conditions for further damage to the fragile system.  From the United Nations Environment Programme

Describes the results of satellite study of the colder regions of the planet in a time of warming.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Reports that 2012 to date is the 9^th warmest year on record despite the presence of a La Nina cycle which usually moderates temperature.  Record keeping began in 1850.  Also reports on the unprecedented melting of the Arctic ice cap.  From the World Meterological Organization

Reports on the consequences for the global ecosystem of large-scale thawing of permafrost in polar regions, including the release of large amounts of previously sealed carbon into the atmosphere.  From the United Nations Environment Programme

This paper describes some of the environmental issues that affect the Far North, including climate change, biological diversity, and the accumulation of toxic substances, and covers some of the efforts being made internationally and in Canada to protect the Arctic environment.  From the Library of Parliament, Canada

Calls for greater cooperation among the scientific, modeling, and user communities to improve understanding of the interactions between warming climate, Arctic sea ice, and the oceans.  From the National Research Council

Describes the policy of the European Union toward sustainable development of the Arctic region.  From the European Commission

Climate change and warming have produced dramatic changes in the Arctic, including diminishing ice.  Arctic countries are preparing territorial claims for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.  More commercial shipping and energy exploration are expected in the Arctic region.

From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Concludes that 6 years of observations indicate a shift in the Arctic Ocean system since 2006 characterized by persistent decline in the thickness and summer extent of the sea ice cover and a warmer upper ocean.  Biological productivity at the base of the marine food chain has increased but sea-ice dependent marine mammals continue to lose habitat.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Discusses a variety of issues confronting the current Congress including  sport fisheries, habitat protection, seafood safety, endangered species, invasive species, and more.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by National Agricultural Law Center

Explores the competition between Russia and other countries for influence  and control over energy rights in the Arctic.  From the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

Finds the polar ice sheets are losing mass at an accelerating rate and that sea level rise is expected to be significantly higher than projected by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel  on Climate Change back in 2007.  From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Discusses emerging issues relating to the Arctic waters and resources as climate change shrinks the ice cover. Major issues include resource claims by the five Arctic countries, increased commercial shipping and fishing in Arctic waters, endangered species, energy resource exploration, and military presence in the area.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

One in a series of reports on Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World.  Each analyzes a specific glacierized region of the planet and monitors glacier changes.  Provides a baseline for the extent of glaciers in the 1970s and their later range in an increasingly warmer climatic period.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature made this July the second warmest on record and the warmest averaged January-July on record.  Covers temperature, precipitation, and polar ice highlights.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Provides projections of 21^st Century sea ice conditions in the Bering and Chukchi Seas by 18 climate models to explore the effects of global warming on local resources of commercial and cultural value.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Highlights the climate conditions that characterized 2009 including notable extreme events.  Contains sections on temperatures, oceans, tropics, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and regional climates.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Describes what the term “critical habitat” means, the area designated as critical habitat for the polar bear, and includes maps of affected sea ice, barrier island, and land areas.  From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Federal Register notice which announces the reopening of the public comment period on the proposed designation of critical habitat for the polar bear until July 6, 2010.  Also announces the availability of the draft economic analysis of critical habitat designation for the polar bear.  From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Identifies and analyzes the potential economic impacts, such as gas and oil exploration and production,  associated with the designation of certain areas as critical habitat for the polar bear.  Covers sea-ice, land, and barrier island habitats.  From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Discusses the changes to the Arctic from climate change including longer shipping seasons, exploration for mineral resources, exploitation of fishing resources, and an increase in endangered species.  Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the U.S. are all involved in preparing Arctic claims.  From the  Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists.

Reports on venting of seafloor methane gas in the Arctic Ocean due to holes produced by climate warming in the permafrost layers and on the implications of this phenomena for rapid climate change.  From the National Science Foundation.