Weather & Science
Thawing Tundra Is Now a Carbon Source in Fast-Warming Arctic
Scientists’ annual report card on the polar region finds that its vast tundra is releasing more CO2 than it stores, a worrying shift.
A boat in the sea ice in the Borebukta Bay, in northern Norway.
Photographer: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred within the past decade, with 2024 likely to be the warmest yet. But the Arctic has warmed up at a faster rate than the planet as a whole during that period and its tundra is now releasing more carbon dioxide than it stores, according to scientists’ annual report card on the polar region.
The rapid heating on the top of the planet is set to continue as changes to sea ice, ocean temperatures and snow cover, among other factors, create feedback loops that amplify the effects of global warming.