Nordic boreo-arctic lands under rapid climatic change: A review of recent and future trends and extreme events

Abstract

The Arctic amplification affects the geology, cryosphere, and the total environment of high-latitude maritime-influenced lands. This study synthesizes information on recent and future climatic changes within the Nordic boreo-arctic region. The study area includes Greenland, Iceland, and the central and northern parts of Finland, Norway (incl. Svalbard), and Sweden. The climate scenarios used are derived from the CMIP6 ECEarth3 Earth System Model (ESM) data for the period 2015–2100 under the SSP2–4.5 scenario. The synthesis builds upon a comprehensive range of sources, addressing both gradual climatic changes and the frequency of extreme weather events across all seasons. Ongoing and projected changes to the cryosphere, soil, freshwater systems, wind, precipitation, and frequency of hazardous events are comprehensively reviewed and discussed.