Arctic Thunderstorms

The history of thunderstorms observed in the high arctic reads like that of great auroras at low latitude--it dates back many years, but the number of events is not large.

Part of the historical sparseness of observed thunderstorms in the Arctic Ocean and on surrounding shores is due simply to the lack of people to observe the thunderstorms. But mainly, thunderstorms are rare in arctic regions because the conditions necessary for formation of the tall clouds are lacking. A warm earth surface, irregular terrain and plenty of moisture in the middle atmosphere contribute to the formation of strong updrafts and the associated condensation of moisture at high altitudes involved in the development of thunderstorms.

Looking into thunderstorm history, Mr. Arne Hanson of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory at Barrow, Alaska, has uncovered an observation of an arctic thunderstorm made in 1580. A manuscript Hanson has prepared contains a quotation written aboard a ship sailing the Kara Sea, north of Siberia: "... the wince with a showre and thunder came to the Southwest and then wee ranne East Northeast."

Several thunderstorms on the north Siberia coast were recorded in the late 1700's, and at least nine were observed on the northern coasts of Canada, Alaska or Siberia by explorers in the period 1815-1826.

During the last 30 years, Hanson reports that three thunderstorms have been observed far offshore and well out over the icepack. These observations proved the error of a prediction made in 1933 by the famous oceanographer H. U. Svendrup. He suggested that thunderstorms would never be observed out in the icepack area more than 100 km from shore.

Since arctic-region thunderstorms are comparatively rare, it is worthwhile to write down the details of any observations of them that might be made. At the Geophysical Institute we happily collect and archive descriptions of unusual events of this type.