Autumn air temperatures in the Arctic have hit record levels — some 9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal — according to a new assessment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Researchers took a close look at the Arctic’s atmosphere, biology, land, ocean, and sea ice and concluded that “There continues to be widespread and, in some cases, dramatic evidence of an overall warming of the Arctic system.” This year’s summer sea-ice melt was the second-meltiest on record, and Greenland’s ice sheet lost some 24 cubic miles of ice, giving it the dubious honor of being one of the largest single contributors to global sea level rise. Impacts on Arctic wildlife were mixed since some species, like geese, adapted better to the ecosystem changes and expanded their range. However, caribou and walrus populations, among others, seemed to be negatively affected. The Arctic warming trend also increased green-plant cover in the region as some plants moved farther north into areas that used to be permafrost. “These are dynamic and dramatic times in the Arctic,” said researcher Jackie Richter-Menge. “The outlook isn’t good.”
