According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is change in the climate of the whole Earth or a region of the Earth that is believed to be caused, directly or indirectly, by human activity. Using this definition, change driven by natural processes is called climate variability. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change uses the term ‘climate change’ to mean any change in climate, regardless of the cause.

To understand climate change, it is important to know the difference between weather* and climate. Climates change naturally (sometimes called climate variability) and have changed many times over thousands of years. Human activities believed to result in climate change include burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The term anthropogenic climate change is also used when referring to climate change caused by humans. See also global warming.

  • > Chokurdakh Scientific Tundra Station

    Field Sites

    Collaborator in the project until spring 2022 STATION NAME AND OWNER The Chokurdakh Scientific TundraA type of ecosystem in which tree growth is limited by

    > Read more
  • > Barrow Arctic Research Center/Environmental Observatory

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER The Barrow ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > Toolik Field Station

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER The Toolik Field Station (TFS) belongs to the Institute of ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural

    > Read more
  • > Summit Station

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER Summit Station is funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by Battelle ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according

    > Read more
  • > Arctic DTU Research Station

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas

    > Read more
  • > CNR Arctic Station “Dirigibile Italia”

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER The Italian ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > Tarfala Research Station

    Field Sites

    Twitter @NKirchnerSthlm Facebook @TarfalaResearchStation Webpage www.natgeo.su.se/tarfala-forskningsstation STATION NAME AND OWNER Tarfala Research Station is a centre for glaciological and alpine research at Stockholm University, Sweden,

    > Read more
  • > Numto Park Station

    Field Sites

    Collaborator in the project until spring 2022 STATION NAME AND OWNER The Numto Park Station belongs to the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Dynamics and Climate

    > Read more
  • > The Arctic Research Station (former Labytnangi Ecological Research Station)

    Field Sites

    Collaborator in the project until spring 2022 STATION NAME AND OWNER The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific

    > Read more
  • > Drone Technology in the Arctic

    News

    INTERACT partner ÅF has produced a short video on the development of drone technology in the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical,

    > Read more
  • > The Changing Global Arctic on YouTube

    News

    INTERACT’s newest short films are out now! Watch them on our YouTube Channel: Arctic Climate Magnification Disappearing Homes Extreme Causes for Concern The Costs of

    > Read more
  • > Post-doc position at Climate Impacts Research Centre in Abisko

    News

    A Post-doc position (3 years) focusing on plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling across the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical,

    > Read more
  • > New Educational Resources Available

    News

    INTERACT collaborates with Wicked Weather Watch to produce resources for teaching ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives.

    > Read more
  • > Thawing permafrost – a hot topic

    News

    Nunataryuk, part of the EU ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as

    > Read more
  • > APECS-ARICE Webinar

    News

    INTERACT’s siter project ARICE is together with APECSAssociation of Polar Early Career Scientists…. More hosting a webinar: “From icebreakers into classrooms – opportunities for educators

    > Read more
  • > Summer school at Arctic Station, Greenland

    News

    The Advanced ClimateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies from place-to-place across the Earth. Climate

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT at UN Climate Change Conference COP23

    News

    As part of the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas

    > Read more
  • > NERC Arctic Station 30 years today!

    News

    INTERACT congratulates NERC ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT Stories of Arctic Science and Stations continue on-line 19th May at 14-15 CEST

    News

    INTERACT Stories of ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having

    > Read more
  • > New paper on climate change and the rise of infectious diseases by INTERACT’s collborator CLINF

    News

    Animals that carry infectious microorganisms are migrating towards the North with climate-change transitions of ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural

    > Read more
  • > List of Sessions announced for the ASSW2019

    News

    The 21st Arctic Science Summit Week, established by the International ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some

    > Read more
  • > Vacancy at INTERACT partner University of Helsinki

    News

    The Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a Postdoctoral researcher in remote sensing of ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT in Luxemburg news

    News

    INTERACTers are featured in a video produced by the government of Luxemburg where  the youth are consulted regarding climate changeAccording to the United Nations Framework

    > Read more
  • > Deliverable report on how to reduce CO2 emissions from Arctic science available now

    News

    Work Package 2, Station Managers’ Forum, is producing a new pocket guide on how to reduce CO2 emissions from ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according

    > Read more
  • > New research facility at Oulanka research station

    News

    EcoClimate is a long-term manipulative natural experimental platform studying combined and separate effects of climate changeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

    > Read more
  • > PhD position available at INTERACT station Abisko

    News

    A PhD-position in Ecology (4 years) is available in Abisko at the ClimateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies

    > Read more
  • > Success story on INTERACT’s sister project ARICE

    News

    A success story on INTERACT’s sister project Arice has been published online on the webpage of the European Commission. ”Climate changeAccording to the United Nations

    > Read more
  • > The Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award

    News

    The Frederik Paulsen ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having

    > Read more
  • > Call for Sessions at International Arctic Change Conference 2017, Quebec City, Canada

    News

    The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high

    > Read more
  • > Consultation on EU Arctic Policy

    News

    The European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have launched a joint public consultation on the European Union’s ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental,

    > Read more
  • > Aurora College is hiring

    News

    Three research chair positions are open at INTERACT partner Aurora College in Canada: Climate ChangeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate

    > Read more
  • > IPCC seeks experts reviewers for the Sixth Assessment Report

    News

    The Working Group I Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Climate ChangeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is

    > Read more
  • > Reducing CO2 Emissions from Arctic Science

    News

    Together with APECSAssociation of Polar Early Career Scientists…. More, INTERACT launches a guidebook on how to reduce CO2 emissions from Arctic Science. The guidebook is intended

    > Read more
  • > Postdoc positions at two INTERACT partners

    News

    Two INTERACT partners are offering postdoctoral positions: Sea Ice Physics and Remote Sensing UiT The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political,

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT at iCLIMATE meeting in Dragør, Denmark

    News

    INTERACT is giving a presentation at the iCLIMATE meeting in Dragør in Denmark today. iCLIMATE is Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate ChangeAccording to the

    > Read more
  • > Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award Call for nominations

    News

    The Frederik Paulsen ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having

    > Read more
  • > Arctic Safety Conference in Svalbard

    News

    INTERACT partner UNIS is hosting an international ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT at T-MOSAIC Workshop

    News

    INTERACT participated at a T-MOSAIC (Terrestrial – Multidisciplinary distributed Observatories for the Study of ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural

    > Read more
  • > Two Post Doc fellowships in Abisko, Sweden

    News

    Two Postdoctoral Fellowships (2 years each) in ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT adaptation work package published in Nature Climate Change

    News

    WP 9 (Adapting to environmental change) published an article in Nature Climate ChangeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is

    > Read more
  • > Heated rivalries for pollinators among arctic plants

    News

    Insect pollination is as important to ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > International Arctic Change 2017 Conference Photo Contest

    News

    The International ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a

    > Read more
  • > Towards an increasingly biased view on Arctic change – paper in Nature Climate Change

    News

    As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, the resulting geopolitical tensions may impact our ability to understand ongoing ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to

    > Read more
  • > Call for proposals- Arctic Week 2019

    News

    The “ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT Photo Competition

    Almost one hundred excellent photographers from the INTERACT Community participated in the INTERACT Photo Competition. We received almost 800 pictures for the nine different categories,

    > Read more
  • > Home

    Welcome to INTERACT – International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic INTERACT is an infrastructure project under the auspices of SCANNET, an

    > Read more
  • > The Changing Global Arctic

    The Changing Global Arctic   These four short films, co-produced with BBC Natural History Unit, address four different yet critically important aspects of Arctic change,

    > Read more
  • > Project

    About INTERACT   INTERACT was proposed by the existing SCANNET network of field stations situated in all eight ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to

    > Read more
  • > Arctic Awareness

    INTERACT aims to inform and interact with the public, stakeholders and primary, secondary and tertiary students. In particular, we will work with people living in

    > Read more
  • > Alaska, USA

    Alaska is the 49th and largest U.S. state with an area of 1,718,000 km². It is a sparsely populated state with around 731,000 inhabitants (0.4/km2),

    > Read more
  • > Canada

    Canada´s territory extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and

    > Read more
  • > Faroe Islands

    The Faroe Islands is a self-governing entity within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is neither a member of the EU nor part of the Schengen

    > Read more
  • > Artificial Intelligence

    Climate Action: Making data widely available In addition to conventional and traditional knowledge, there are many hidden resources on environmental change. These include private photographs,

    > Read more
  • > Finland

    Finland is an EU member state and part of the Schengen area. The country covers an area of around 340,000 km², with a population of

    > Read more
  • > Greenland

      Disclaimer: Please note that the websites from Greenland are currently under reconstruction and several links may not work! Greenland is a self-governing entity within

    > Read more
  • > Iceland

    Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), which allows the country access to the single market of the European Union. Iceland has

    > Read more
  • > Collaborations

    APECS The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) is an international and interdisciplinary organization for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early career faculty

    > Read more
  • > Russia

    Russia is the largest country in the world with an area of 17,125,191km² and a population of 146.2 million (8.4/km²). The Ural Mountains divide the

    > Read more
  • > Svalbard, Norway

      Svalbard is an archipelago in the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the

    > Read more
  • > Sweden

    Sweden is an EU member state and part of the Schengen Area. At 450,000 km², Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe and has

    > Read more
  • > TA Ambassadors

    INTERACT TA Ambassadors are scientists who have conducted research at INTERACT stations with the support from Transnational Access. TA Ambassadors share knowledge –based on their

    > Read more
  • > ACIA

    Glossary

    ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude,

    > Read more
  • > Albedo

    Glossary

    The ‘whiteness’ of a surface. The higher the albedoThe ‘whiteness’ of a surface. The higher the albedo, the more the surface reflects light. Snow and

    > Read more
  • > Anthropogenic

    Glossary

    Caused by, or due to, human activities. For example, anthropogenicCaused by, or due to, human activities. For example, anthropogenic climate change.Caused by, or due to,

    > Read more
  • > Climate feedback mechanism

    Glossary

    A change in the climateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies from place-to-place across the

    > Read more
  • > Climate variability

    Glossary

    Changes in climateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies from place-to-place across the Earth. Climate

    > Read more
EU Logo