As Monica Turner trekked across the western hills of Yellowstone National Park, the cold rain was inescapable. Even the constant movement of putting one foot in front of the other as she fought…

In Arctic winter, the boundary layer occupies two preferred radiative states, a cold, clear state and a heat-trapping, cloudy state, that strongly regulate surface energy loss over sea ice. Yet,…

Between 2014 and 2015, a marine heatwave known as “The Blob” warmed an area of the Pacific Ocean larger than the United States and Mexico combined. The massive event fueled toxic algae blooms,…

Coverage levels fall a million square kilometres short of the long-term average, with global heating likely driving losses

CIRES scientists use satellites to uncover how and when the first known ice shelf estuary formed on the Greenland Ice Sheet

El Niño once helped predict Indian Ocean warming. New research shows that climate change is disrupting that centuries-old connection.

Arctic sea ice likely reached its minimum extent for the year, at 4.60 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles) on September 12, 2026. In the Antarctic, sea ice extent has been tracking…

CIRES@NOAA lab lead at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center serves as a northern lights tour guide in Canada

Abstract. Supraglacial rivers may reduce ice-shelf instability by draining meltwater from the ice-shelf surface, limiting loading-induced stresses from ponded meltwater. However, if a supraglacial riv...

The two-day event is designed to connect researchers with external partners and elevate sustainability research. Explore the program and register to attend.

CIRES scientists use satellites to uncover how and when the first known ice shelf estuary formed on the Greenland Ice Sheet

Can a simple geoengineering approach restore dwindling Arctic ice?

As human-caused climate warming destabilizes high mountain regions, the threat of rock-ice avalanches and other glacial hazards grows.

From climate comedy with students to a conversation featuring Bill Nye, CU Boulder faculty and sustainability leaders will bring research, expertise and

Cold air outbreaks and warm air intrusions link Arctic and midlatitude weather and climate. But a lack of data on these events, especially in winter, limits our understanding.

World Ozone Day is a celebration and a reminder that we can do good things when we come together

A major report has found that 12.5 trillion tons of ice from Greenland and Antarctica have melted since 1979.

Cold air outbreaks and warm air intrusions link Arctic and midlatitude weather and climate. But a lack of data on these events, especially in winter, limits our understanding.

September 13, 2026 | 6 Comments

NSIDC celebrates 50 years in operation as of September 2026.

Assimilation of mid-tropospheric vapor isotopes significantly improves short-term weather forecasts and mean-to-extreme precipitation, especially at mid-latitudes, according to an analysis of 4.5…

The highly anticipated yearly assessment will continue under its independent editorial team led by CIRES researchers

The critical and highly anticipated yearly assessment will be carried forward through a partnership with CIRES/CU Boulder and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.