NOAA Arctic Report Card Details Rapid Environmental Changes and Warming Trends

NOAA Arctic Report Card Details Environmental Changes and Warming Trends

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its annual Arctic Report Card, which provides an overview of environmental changes in the northern part of the planet. The report, now in its 20th year, indicates that the Arctic continues to warm at a rate faster than the global average.

Matthew Druckenmiller, a senior scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center and lead editor of this year's report, stated that the most recent year was the warmest and wettest in the Arctic's recorded history. Arctic warming affects global sea-level rise, weather patterns, and commercial fisheries. Druckenmiller noted that the thawing and warming of the Arctic impact the global climate.

The report's release occurs amidst changes to federal science and climate research. President Trump has referred to climate change as a "hoax," and his administration has reduced climate science initiatives by cutting research budgets, dismissing federal scientists, and halting work on the National Climate Assessment. Jennifer Francis, a scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center not involved with the report, commented that "pretty much everything having to do with climate change — the climate crisis — has undergone huge cuts."

An independent network of global scientists compiles the research in the annual report. Some sections of this edition discuss the effects of climate change, with at least one study identifying the burning of fossil fuels as a major cause. Druckenmiller noted that while the U.S. administration's perspective on climate research is shifting, the report received full support from NOAA. Acting NOAA Chief Scientist Steve Thur affirmed that the report "highlights the critical value of sustained, collaborative observations for understanding and responding to rapid Arctic change" and stated that "NOAA remains committed to meeting this challenge."

Key Findings from the Report:

Hundreds of Arctic rivers and streams are observed to be turning bright red-orange. This discoloration is attributed to naturally occurring iron spilling from thawing permafrost as temperatures increase. This phenomenon has been documented across the Brooks Range in northern Alaska.

Josh Koch, a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, whose research is featured in the report, stated that observations of these discolored rivers began around 2018. Satellite imagery, water testing, and ground observations have since identified affected rivers over hundreds of miles in remote parts of Alaska. Koch indicated that the thawing of permafrost likely triggers the discoloration. As water and oxygen penetrate melting soil, iron and other metals seep into nearby streams. The iron often precipitates upon reaching the stream, creating the staining. This change can occur within days or weeks.

Other metals, including copper and aluminum, are also being released from thawing permafrost. Researchers are investigating the potential for these metals to harm fish, which could consequently affect other animals in the food chain, and to contaminate rural drinking water supplies. No impacts on drinking water have been identified to date.

The Greenland Ice Sheet lost an estimated 129 billion tons of ice in a recent reporting period, consistent with a long-term trend. Arctic glaciers outside Greenland have also experienced thinning since the 1950s, with Alaskan glaciers showing an average loss of 125 vertical feet during this period.

Druckenmiller highlighted that thinning and melting glaciers pose immediate and long-term risks. For example, the melting of the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Alaska, has led to sudden glacial outbursts of water in recent years, resulting in floods. Globally, ongoing glacier loss contributes to rising global sea levels, which increases risks from flooding, erosion, and storm surge in coastal communities.

Warmer, saltier water is present in the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole, a process termed "Atlantification." This contributes to historically low sea ice levels in the region. The most recent year recorded the lowest sea-ice extent in the 47-year satellite record.

Similar warming trends are observed in the Bering Sea, an area significant for commercial fish species such as Alaska Pollock and Pacific Salmon. Warming waters in this region are associated with an increase in southern marine species and a decrease in Arctic species. Druckenmiller stated that these changes are disrupting both traditional hunting practices and commercial fisheries, underscoring the connection between the food chain and the livelihoods of Arctic inhabitants.