New flagship report documents accelerating Arctic climate change

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), based in Tromsø, has just released its 2024 update on Arctic climate change — and the findings are sobering. 

While AMAP is not officially affiliated with iC3, both institutions share the same northern home, reflecting Tromsø’s role as a hub for Arctic research and policy making. 

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Key findings: 

🔥 The Arctic Is Heating Up—Fast

Between 1979 and 2023, the Arctic warmed at three times the global average. Surface air temperatures have increased by 3°C since 1971, and more Arctic days are now warmer than 0°C. This warming drives many of the region’s most dramatic changes.

🌧️ More Rain, Less Snow

Precipitation increased by up to 10%, with a growing share falling as rain rather than snow. This shift is reshaping ecosystems, accelerating snowmelt, and increasing flood risks.

🌊 Oceans Are Acidifying Rapidly

Due to diminishing sea ice, the Arctic Ocean is absorbing carbon dioxide at an accelerated pace — three to four times faster than other oceans. This threatens marine life and the Indigenous and coastal communities that rely on them.

🔥 Wildfires and Extreme Events on the Rise

Extreme wildfires in the Eurasian Arctic have quadrupled. Record-breaking heat, rainfall, and sea-ice loss are becoming more frequent, pushing the region into an entirely new climatic regime.

❄️ The Cryosphere Is Shrinking

The Arctic’s “cryosphere” — its frozen water systems — is in steep decline:

• Spring snow cover decreased by 27% from 1979–2023.
• Arctic glaciers and Greenland’s ice sheet are the largest contributors to global sea-level rise.
• Permafrost has warmed 2–3°C since the 1970s.
• Sea-ice extent is at its lowest in the satellite record, with a nearly ice-free summer likely by 2040.

🌱 Greener Tundra, Shifting Landscapes

Warmer, wetter conditions are causing "shrubification" across the tundra, increasing vegetation but also fire fuel. Meanwhile, permafrost thaw is destabilizing landscapes, releasing greenhouse gases, and mobilizing toxins like mercury.

🌊 Disrupted Water Cycles

From earlier snowmelt floods to shifting river discharges, Arctic hydrology is in flux. These changes affect transportation, ecosystems, and freshwater availability.

🌍 Global Implications

While the report emphasizes the urgency for Arctic communities to adapt, it also underscores how Arctic change is intricately tied to global systems — including weather patterns, sea level, and biodiversity.

AMAP’s report “Arctic Climate Change Update 2024: Key Trends and Impacts. Summary for Policy-makers” is available online.