The newest article on this page is about the mysterious narwhals and their relationship with arctic ice.

Background

In Baffin Bay, one of the harshest climates in the world, narwhals navigate by finding the proper balance between ice, food, predators and open water.
From my understanding, the thickness of the ice is the result of the temperature and choppiness of the water. So narwhals can thrive in the northern, more still water in the fjords during the summer. In winter, they migrate south to open waters.

This image shows that much of Baffin Bay is iced over during the winter. The narwhals survive in small cracks in the winter ice. For breathing, there is about 2 percent open water. They do suffocate at times, though, during shifting weather conditions. 

The concern with climate change is more extreme events and changing annual weather patterns. For example, abrupt cold spells could freeze over the cracks on the ice. 

The article in the Guardian is concerned about the narwhal’s extinction. Specifically, how will the animals change their navigation – by learned experience or by natural instinct. Narwhals live a long time, so their evolution differs from the microscopic organisms that evolve much more quickly. 

In favor for the species survival, the animals are delaying their winter migration by a week. So, they are learning about the new ice conditions and changing their plans accordingly. The increase of extreme events is not in their favor. Are they aware of this increase as they navigate the water below the ice? And how well will they survive more new encounters with other creatures, including humans? Time will tell for the mysterious narwhal.