n the
2024 Arctic Report Card, released Dec. 10, we brought together 97 scientists from 11 countries, with expertise ranging from wildlife to wildfire and sea ice to snow, to report on the state of the Arctic environment.
They describe the
rapid changes they’re witnessing across the Arctic, and the consequences for people and wildlife that touch every region of the globe.
Highlights from the 2024 Arctic Report Card. NOAA.
Pace of change in the Arctic accelerates
The Arctic of today looks stunningly different from the Arctic of even one to two decades ago. Over the
Arctic Report Card’s 19 years, we and the many contributing authors to the report have watched the pace of environmental change accelerate and the challenges become more complex.
For the past 15 years, the
Arctic snow season has been one to two weeks shorter than it was historically, shifting the timing and character of the seasons.
Shorter snow seasons can challenge plants and animals that depend on regular seasonal changes. Longer snow-free seasons can also reduce water resources from snowmelt earlier in spring or summer and increase the possibility of drought.