Weather & Science
The Arctic’s Vital Signs Are Going Haywire From Climate Change
Melting ice and greening tundra signal rapid warming at the top of the world, says the 2023 Arctic Report Card.
Polar bears near Svalbard, Norway, on July 15.
Photographer: Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The Arctic experienced its warmest summer on record in 2023, with an average temperature of 6.4C (43.5F) — half a degree higher than the previous record set in 2016, according to the Arctic Report Card released Tuesday.
Coming at the end of the hottest year ever recorded, the 18th edition of the annual report shows a continuation — and in some cases an acceleration — of trends that are reshaping the polar region as the planet heats up from human-caused climate change. Those trends include less sea ice, more rain and warmer sea surface temperatures.