There has never been as thin ice on Torneträsk as this winter. In addition, there has been a lot of snow, which means that the ice is treacherous in many places in the seven-mile-long lake in Kiruna. At the Abisko Science Station, the thickness of the ice has been measured since 1958, once a week to collect data for the researchers.

"This year is the thinnest ice that has been since we started the measurements," says Ola Eriksson, technical coordinator at Abisko science station.

Researcher Gesa Weyhenmeyer at Uppsala University is researching how water ecosystems are affected by global changes in the world.

Three degrees warmer winter temperature

In the Kiruna area, the snowy winter has been three degrees warmer than the reference period, which is from 1961-1990.

- It is important that it is three degrees warmer winter temperature. Then it is very special when there is a lot of snow, the snow acts as insulation.

He continues:

- We haven't had that combination before - mild winter and lots of snow, then there will be bad ice, says Gesa Weyhenmeyer, professor at Uppsala University.