Svalbard has a surprisingly mild climate for its latitude. The average year round temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter on Svalbard sees temperatures tumble to a still relatively mild 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ice pack that spreads southward from the Arctic during winter is affecting Svalbard less as global temperatures increase. As recently as the 1980s, the polar ice would spread down the eastern and western edges of Svalbard, leaving the sea to the north completely frozen. Now, the ice barely reaches the northern tip of Svalbard and the sea is open for most of the year.
The effect of winter on Svalbard is decreasing as time goes by. What was once frozen Arctic tundra during the winter is becoming an accessible group of islands all year round. The effect this might have on the wildlife of Svalbard is of great concern to conservationists around the globe. Polar bears in particular are threatened, as the ice that they rely upon for migration is disappearing, causing their numbers to dwindle.
