Coal is formed from the remains of plants that lived millions of years ago. These plants grew in swampy areas, and when they died, they were covered by layers of mud and sand. Over time, the mud and sand turned into rock, and the plant material turned into coal.

The Arctic is a very cold region, and it is not hospitable to plant life. So, scientists were surprised to find coal in the Arctic. This suggests that the climate in the Arctic was much warmer millions of years ago, when the plants that formed the coal were growing.

The discovery of coal in the Arctic has helped scientists to learn more about the history of the Earth's climate. It has also shown that the Arctic is not always as cold as it is today.