Arctic's Vital Signs in Crisis: NOAA's 2023 Report Card Reveals Record-Hot Summer

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its 18th annual Arctic Report Card, revealing that the Arctic experienced its warmest summer on record in 2023, with temperatures rising four times faster than in other regions. The report highlights the impact of rising temperatures on the Arctic landscape, including the loss of Greenland's ice sheet and the sixth-lowest extent of floating sea ice in the satellite record. The report also emphasizes the devastating effects of wildfires in the region, with Canada experiencing its worst wildfire season on record. The inclusion of observations from Indigenous communities in the report underscores the growing collaboration between Western scientists and local people with firsthand knowledge of the changing conditions in the Arctic.