Context:
Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its 18th Annual Arctic Report Card, highlighting the profound impact of extreme weather and Climate Events on the Arctic.
Relevance:
GS I: Geography
Dimensions of the Article:
- Arctic Report Card 2023: Key Highlights
- About Arctic and Arctic Report Card
Arctic Report Card 2023: Key Highlights
Record Summer Warmth:
- The Arctic experienced its warmest summer on record in 2023.
- The region has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average since 1979.
- Ranked as the sixth warmest year in the Arctic since 1900.
Impact of Extreme Weather:
- Unprecedented wildfires, leading to evacuations, decline in sea ice extent, severe floods, food insecurity, and rising sea levels.
- Direct consequences on ecosystems, human health, and cultural practices.
Thawing Permafrost and Greenhouse Gas Release:
- Warmer ocean temperatures accelerating subsea permafrost thaw, releasing methane and carbon dioxide.
- Concerns about the unknown extent and impact of released greenhouse gases.
Decline in Salmon Populations:
- Western Alaska saw significant reductions in Chinook and chum salmon populations.
- Impacts Indigenous communities with cultural, food security, and economic implications.
Worst Wildfire Season in Canada:
- Canada experienced its worst wildfire season, affecting 40% of Arctic and Northern lands.
- Over 10 million acres burned in the Northwest Territories, leading to evacuations and air quality issues.
Mendenhall Glacier Thinning and Flooding:
- Dramatic thinning of Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier over the past two decades.
- Glacier meltwater causing annual floods, with a notable event in August 2023 causing severe property damage.
Greenland Ice Sheet Melting:
- Greenland’s ice sheet melted for the fifth time in 34 years.
- Despite above-average winter snow accumulation, the ice sheet lost approximately 350 trillion pounds of mass between August 2022 and September 2023.
- Significant contributor to sea-level rise.
About Arctic and Arctic Report Card
Arctic
- The Arctic is the northernmost polar region on Earth, characterized by seasonally changing snow and ice cover on its land.
- This expansive area includes the Arctic Ocean, surrounding seas, and portions of Alaska (United States), Canada, Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.
Arctic Report Card
- The Arctic Report Card, issued annually since 2006, serves as a timely and peer-reviewed resource.
- Providing clear, reliable, and concise information, it offers insights into the current state of various Arctic environmental components compared to historical records.
- This report is a valuable reference for understanding the ongoing changes in the Arctic environmental system.
-Source: Indian Express
