Reindeer migrate south to avoid harsh winters, and in summer, they move towards the coast, where there are fewer bugs. It may appear that they could benefit from warm and windy weather.
Research shows that warming in the Arctic is associated with an increasing frequency of thaw and freeze cycles, as well as heavier rainfall during the winter months. This leads to the formation of a thick ice crust that prevents reindeer from accessing their primary food sources — moss and lichens hidden under the snow.
In 2019, over 200 reindeer on Spitsbergen died of starvation because an icy crust had covered their pastures, the biggest die-off since observations began in 1978. Scientists at the University of Idaho (USGS, 2023) have created a Winter Severity Index to assess the impact of climatic conditions on the survival of deer and elk.
Climate change also causes problems for reindeer herders. Delayed freeze-up on rivers is already making it more difficult for herders to move livestock; for example, this has become a major issue on the Kola Peninsula. Warming creates instability rather than comfort, threatening both reindeer and the traditional way of life in the Arctic.
Research shows that warming in the Arctic is associated with an increasing frequency of thaw and freeze cycles, as well as heavier rainfall during the winter months. This leads to the formation of a thick ice crust that prevents reindeer from accessing their primary food sources — moss and lichens hidden under the snow.
In 2019, over 200 reindeer on Spitsbergen died of starvation because an icy crust had covered their pastures, the biggest die-off since observations began in 1978. Scientists at the University of Idaho (USGS, 2023) have created a Winter Severity Index to assess the impact of climatic conditions on the survival of deer and elk.
Climate change also causes problems for reindeer herders. Delayed freeze-up on rivers is already making it more difficult for herders to move livestock; for example, this has become a major issue on the Kola Peninsula. Warming creates instability rather than comfort, threatening both reindeer and the traditional way of life in the Arctic.
Photos by Nornickel