American and European researchers have released the most comprehensive research paper ever published on Climate Change in the Arctic, combining overall climate measures with their physical and biological effects.
It paints a grim picture, finding that Arctic air temperatures warm 2.8 times faster than the Northern Hemisphere in the cold season thanks to increased moisture flowing into the region and sea ice freezing over later than it used to.
The study says that we are already seeing snowlines retreating higher and higher, ice levels rapidly shrinking, wildfires on the rise from increased lightning strikes, and plants flowering out of sync with their pollinators. With these changes only expected to worsen, the researchers say the Arctic is entering an unprecedented state.