Activity Report Explorer

Alaska Soles • Entered by Loren Karro on May 28, 2024

Webinar on the Arctic Report Card

January 30, 2024

Key Issue: Climate Change
Activity Type: Trainings (WALTS, CAREs/GLOWs, research, conferences, workshops, etc.)
Key Partners: UAF, Arctic Center for Climate Assessment

Short Description of Activity

Watched a webinar on the Arctic Report Card

Reflection/Evaluation

This webinar, presented by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, reviewed the Arctic Report Card along with the Arctic Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. This is a peer reviewed and timely source for information on current state of the Arctic Environmental System, intended for a wide audience and prepared annually since 2006 by NOAA’s Arctic Program, but not focused on NOAA activities.
They discussed the amplification of climate change, with graphs and figures to show hat this last year was the 6th warmest year on record, and the warmest summer on record across the arctic circle. It was the lowest snow cover on record in May for the Arctic Circle, and the snow cover in June was nearly absent in Europe. There are big changes globally The level of the arctic seas’ warming and the absence and decrease of arctic sea ice is extremely alarming. The older sea ice is almost all gone and the newer sea ice is much thinner. Greenland ice sheet has lost mass every year since 1998.
They also discussed the divergent responses of W. Alaska salmon to the changing Arctic, for each variety of salmon. It is a record of feast famine and uncertainty. In general, salmon are maturing at smaller sizes and there is a big (28%) decrease in the mass of egg deposited per female for Chinook salmon.They believe this is because of species interaction, competition for food in the ocean and a change in predation.
Climate Change is here, NOW. It requires action on Global, State, Local levels. Incorporating local communities into research and management is important to benefit climate adaptation.