Fram Centre

Can the fish in the ocean handle marine heatwaves?

Long periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures, known as marine heatwaves, can have devastating effects on marine ecosystems and have been linked to widespread coral bleaching, harmful algal blooms and abrupt declines in commercially important fish species. How worried should we be?
May 02, 2024

Navigating the waves of maritime safety regulations in the Norwegian Arctic

As the Arctic Ocean’s ice cover recedes, we see increased shipping amid hazardous weather and sea-ice conditions. What challenges does this pose for maritime safety? Are existing regulatory frameworks equipped to address future challenges? What can we learn from recent accidents in Norwegian waters?
April 15, 2024

The Arctic is changing – and so is Polaria

From light to dark, calm to storm, from ice cover to open sea – the Arctic has always changed with the seasons. But something is new: temperatures are rising, and ice is disappearing. The climate in the Arctic is changing more rapidly than anywhere else on earth. At Polaria, we hope to show you why.
April 03, 2024

An ecosystem guy in the era of climate change

When Rolf Anker Ims embarked on his career as a climate scientist, he was almost looked down upon. Today, climate research is one of the most important things one can do.
March 22, 2024

Sustainable development of the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is becoming more accessible as the sea ice retreats. Expectations of increased human activity in the central ocean basins create the need for an updated approach to governance based on an improved understanding of the ecosystem and its response to the changing environment.
February 13, 2024

Plastic contamination in fulmars in the European Arctic over 25 years

Anyone who frequents Arctic waters soon becomes acquainted with the northern fulmar. These wide-ranging birds seem to glide effortlessly along shorelines and vessels, with stiff-winged elegance. But their stomachs have a dark tale to tell.
January 11, 2024

Polar bears and whales in the spotlight of toxicological studies

Many pollutants are toxic and potentially harmful for marine life. Figuring out the pollutants’ effects on whales and polar bears is not easy. Traditional methods have limitations, but alternative research strategies are entering the laboratories.
October 30, 2023

C2C: An integrated science approach in the changing north

When we hike on a local mountain we move through different types of vegetation, from barren tundra to meadows and forests. We cross mires, hop over streams, walk along lake shores. When we reach the coast, we see rivers meeting the sea and wade to our knees in salt water to look for sea creatures.
September 06, 2023

Five decades of terrestrial research in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

For over 50 years, research has been conducted in Ny-Ålesund, to understand High Arctic ecosystems and their responses to environmental change. A “hot-spot” for long-term research and monitoring, Ny-Ålesund has been instrumental in documenting, understanding, and predicting anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems.
June 28, 2023

What should we do while waiting for environmental pollutants to be banned?

Back in 2014, several national newspapers had headlines like “Norwegians are the most toxic people in the world”. The news was based on a research study which showed that in 60 years, Norwegians had gone from having six or seven environmental pollutants in their bodies to having 200-300.
June 08, 2023

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