The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which is roughly midway between the country's mainland and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean, could see its airport at risk as temperatures continue to climb.

Two airlines, SAS and Norwegian, offer year-round flights from the airport to Norway's mainland as tourists flock to the region of polar adventures.

Svalbard Airport's lone 2,300-metre-long runway was built upon a layer of permafrost during the 1970s but it has started to melt away in the years since.

Ragnhild Kommisrud, the airport's manager, told The Independent: "It's important to clarify that the melting of permafrost in Svalbard is not caused by local emissions or activity alone but is a direct result of global climate change.

"The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the global average, and this has severe implications for infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities in the region.

"What we are witnessing in Svalbard is one of the clearest signals of the accelerating climate crisis worldwide."

The melting of the permafrost has not just affected the airport in Svalbard, as some buildings and infrastructure have become less stable and the risk of landslides and avalanches has been heightened.

Tourism has proved to be a key economic aid for the Norwegian region in recent years, although visitors are warned to be wary if travelling in the area alone.

Ronny Brunvoll, CEO of Visit Svalbard, told CNN: "There's a very real chance to come across a polar bear. Then, there's the weather, which can change very abruptly.

"And if something happens, don't expect to have mobile signal in most places. You must be prepared and know what you are doing."