Human greenhouse gas emissions have led to a 40 percent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the Earth is gaining energy at an alarming rate. We expect to lose ice, see oceans rise, changes to the ocean acidity level, among other changes. The arctic, which has been warming at an alarming rate has seen an approximately 75 percent decrease in the summer sea ice volume. Consequently arctic waters, which had been covered by ice, are now absorbing tremendous amounts of solar energy during the summer and releasing it to the atmosphere during the autumn and early winter. If you'd like to see and hear what the Arctic Circle is before it melts away, as well as Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, the World Affairs Council Tacoma hosts Beth Willis and Becky Bianco who will recount their journey to theses locales, which included encounters with reindeer, hot springs, geysers and a traditional Sami Village. {WV}

"PLACES YOU NEVER EXPECT TO GO: CROSSING THE ARTIC CIRCLE AND ABOVE," 7 p.m., The Great Hall, Annie Wright School 827 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma, free admission, 253.272.2215