illustration by John Blair
October 22, 2010-A new report issued yesterday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, “Record temperatures across Canadian Arctic and Greenland, a reduced summer sea ice cover, record snow cover decreases and links to some Northern Hemisphere weather support this conclusion.”
Atmosphere:
Arctic climate is impacting mid-latitude weather, as seen in Winter 2009-2010
Sea Ice:
Summer sea ice conditions for previous four years well below 1980s and 1990s
Ocean:
Upper ocean showing year-to-year variability without significant trends
Land:
Low winter snow accumulation, warm spring temperatures lead to record low snow cover duration
Greenland:
Record setting high temperatures, ice melt, and glacier area loss
Biology:
Rapid environmental change threatens to disrupt current natural cycles
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