From the Arctic to Västerhaninge: A Satellite Story of Climate Connection

Introduction: A Personal Observation
As a resident of Västerhaninge, on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, I live where boreal forests meet the Baltic Sea coast. I’ve noticed changes—warmer summers, shifting seasons, unpredictable weather. I wondered: are these local observations connected to the dramatic transformations happening in the distant Arctic?

This project began with a simple question: Can we see the connection between Arctic ice loss and local climate changes in Sweden?

The Journey: Following the Climate Chain
Using NASA's Earth observation tools, I traced a climate connection across three scales:

1. The Arctic Driver: Barents Sea Ice Loss
Location: 75°N, 35°E — the Barents Sea, the Arctic sector closest to Scandinavia
What I found: By September 15, both in 2010 and 2023, the Barents Sea was largely ice-free. The deep blue colors showed open water where sea ice once persisted through summer.

Why this matters: When white ice disappears, dark ocean absorbs more heat. This "Arctic amplification" doesn't stay in the Arctic—it influences weather patterns that travel south toward Scandinavia.

2. The Regional Impact: Baltic Sea Warming
Location: 58°N, 20°E — the central Baltic Sea, Sweden's maritime backyard
What I found: Comparing July temperatures from 2010 to 2023, the Baltic Sea showed more yellow and orange—warmer waters. The blue, cooler areas had retreated.

The connection: As the Arctic warms, it affects atmospheric patterns that influence Baltic Sea temperatures. A warmer Baltic means different marine ecosystems, altered coastal climates, and changing conditions for communities like mine.

3. The Local Effect: Västerhaninge's Changing Landscape
Location: 59.11°N, 18.10°E — my home area
What I found: Even with partial satellite coverage (Swedish summers are often cloudy), the land surface temperature data revealed patterns. The patches of color showed where ground temperatures varied—forests cooler, developed areas warmer.

The personal link: These temperature patterns affect local biodiversity, agriculture, and daily life. The changes I observe walking through Västerhaninge's forests and along its coast are connected to processes starting thousands of kilometers away.

The Method: Citizen Science with NASA Satellites
This wasn't just looking at pretty pictures. Each step required careful choices:

Sensor selection: Using AMSR-UE for 2010 Arctic data, GCOM-W1/AMSR2 for 2023

Date consistency: Comparing the same calendar days across years

Scale matching: From 1000km Arctic views to 50km local details

Data interpretation: Understanding that blue means different things in different contexts (ice concentration vs. temperature)

The Bigger Picture: What These Connections Mean
Climate change isn't just about polar bears on distant ice. It's about:

Interconnected systems: Arctic ice loss → Warmer air masses → Baltic Sea warming → Local climate changes

Cascading effects: Each change triggers others in a complex chain

Personal relevance: Global changes manifest in our backyards

Reflection: Why This Visualization Matters
Before this project, climate change felt abstract—statistics about distant places. Now, I can see the connections:

The blue open water in the Barents Sea connects to...

The warmer yellows in the Baltic Sea, which connect to...

The temperature patterns around Västerhaninge

This isn't just data—it's a visual story about how my local environment is linked to global systems.

A Call to Observation
You don't need to be a climate scientist to see these changes. With tools like NASA Worldview, anyone can:

Track environmental changes in their region

Understand global-to-local connections

Become an informed observer of our changing planet

Conclusion: From Data to Understanding
This project transformed numbers and colors into understanding. It showed me that Västerhaninge isn't isolated from Arctic changes—we're connected through atmosphere, ocean currents, and climate systems.

The satellite data tells a clear story: what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic. It travels, transforms, and touches communities thousands of kilometers away—including mine.

Tools used: NASA Worldview, MODIS and AMSR satellite data
Time period: 2010–2023 comparison
Locations: Barents Sea, Baltic Sea, Västerhaninge, Sweden
Skills demonstrated: Earth observation, data visualization, climate science communication

This project represents not just technical learning, but a new way of seeing our interconnected world.