The collaborative research conducted by Norwegian scientists and Sámi reindeer herders was featured on the Earth & Sky Science Radio Show on October 22, 2007. The American radio program, which is listened by over 8 million daily, included a six minute segment on the detrimental impact of climate change on the reindeer population.
"Recently, there have been serious declines in number of reindeer, and very directly impacting the well-being of the indigenous people associated with them. Part of that is due to warmer temperatures and climate changes generally".
Reindeer herding has been a way of life for the Sámi for hundreds of years. However, higher temperatures in the Earth's atmosphere have melted and refrozen snow to form thick layers along the surface of the ground, making it exceedingly difficult for reindeer to forage for food.
Sámi herders have joined the EALAT scientists in conducting this research, taking measurements of snow temperature and documenting observations on yearly climate change.
This information is then combined with satellite data to create a real-time record of climate change in the Norwegian Arctic.
The full segment can be found on the Earth&Sky Website.