In 2006, when the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released the first-ever Arctic Report Card, scientists already knew the top of the world was in trouble.
It’s now much worse, according to the 20th edition of the report, which tracks the health of the polar region across multiple indicators.
The last 10 years have been the Arctic’s hottest 10 on record. Warm Atlantic waters have pushed into the central Arctic Ocean, hastening the loss of sea ice. With less ice to reflect sunlight back into space, and faster-melting snow, the region is primed to warm further. And as Arctic