BBC speaks to Stockholm researchers – at earth's most northerly human settlement

Stockholm University's Department of Applied Environmental Science has had a research station on Zeppelin Mountain above Ny-Ålesund since 2006 where scientists have been measuring changes in atmospheric gases and pollutants.

The station is owned by the Norwegian Polar Research Institute, and the Norwegian Institute for Atmospheric Research (NILU) which has the main responsibility for the science performed at the station.

Professor Johan Ström, who heads the team from Stockholm University, told the BBC:

"You have to go back millions of years to see the same values of CO2 that we are measuring today.

"Stopping emissions would stop the CO2 levels increasing, but we would still have to live with all this excess CO2 for thousands of years, because CO2 is a long-lived greenhouse gas."

Professor Ström said that the effects of climate change were more pronounced in the winter.

"The largest temperature changes happen in the winter. Yes, it's cold and we have snow, but you can see it with your own eyes: the glaciers are in retreat.

"There is no excuse not to do something about cutting emissions and pollution," he told the BBC.

The work being done at Zeppelin Mountain above Ny-Ålesund is part of Stockholm University's commitment to studying climate-related changes and the state of the environment.

The research is funded by the Swedish Research Council, The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Read the full article on the BBC webpage.

Related links:
Johan Ström, departmental webpage: www.itm.su.se
The Swedish Research Council: www.vr.se
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: www.naturvardsverket.se
The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat: www.polar.se

Text: Jon Buscall