NOAA: Summer 2023 warmest on record in Arctic

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a report card indicating that summer surface air temperatures in the Arctic during 2023 were the highest ever recorded. The report highlights the impact of human-caused warming on the Arctic region, which is experiencing faster warming than any other part of the world. The Arctic is becoming warmer, less frozen, and wetter, with significant impacts on ecosystems, communities, and weather patterns. The year 2023 marked the sixth-warmest year on record in the Arctic, with a continued decline in sea ice extent. The report also notes changes in salmon abundance, with sockeye salmon reaching record highs in Bristol Bay, Alaska, while Chinook and chum salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers recorded record-low abundance. The report emphasizes the importance of implementing Indigenous knowledge for the future resilience of the Arctic and calls for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad stressed the need for immediate action to address climate change.

Source – CGTN