- Oct 17, 2011
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In 2006, when the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, released the first-ever Arctic Report Card, scientists already knew the top of the world was in trouble.
It’s now much worse, according to the 20th edition of the report, which tracks the health of the polar region across multiple indicators.
The last 10 years have been the Arctic’s hottest 10 on record. Warm Atlantic waters have pushed into the central Arctic Ocean, hastening the loss of sea ice. With less ice to reflect sunlight back into space, and faster-melting snow, the region is primed to warm further. And as Arctic permafrost thaws, it releases more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The report card itself.
It’s now much worse, according to the 20th edition of the report, which tracks the health of the polar region across multiple indicators.
The last 10 years have been the Arctic’s hottest 10 on record. Warm Atlantic waters have pushed into the central Arctic Ocean, hastening the loss of sea ice. With less ice to reflect sunlight back into space, and faster-melting snow, the region is primed to warm further. And as Arctic permafrost thaws, it releases more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- From October 2024 to September 2025, Arctic-wide surface air temperatures were the warmest in at least 125 years. (Hydrologists typically measure the year from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 to better align with seasonal rainfall and snowmelt cycles.)
- Precipitation over the same period was the highest since 1950. Overall, the atmosphere over the Arctic is becoming more moisture-laden, causing more extreme precipitation events, including atmospheric rivers that can cover large expanses with rain or snow.
- The yearly peak coverage of sea ice in March was the smallest observed in 47 years of satellite records, while summer sea ice coverage was 28% smaller than two decades ago.
- The ice isn’t just shrinking; it’s also getting younger and thinner. The oldest, thickest ice in the Arctic — the kind that stays frozen for four years or more — has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s.
- As permafrost thaws, it appears to be releasing iron and other elements into rivers and streams. This may explain why over 200 watersheds in Alaska have turned orange in the past decade, a phenomenon called rusting.
The report card itself.
