“Alarming Findings: Inland Caribou Herds Struggle to Bounce Back”

The Arctic tundra transitioned in the past year from sequestering carbon to emitting it, which indicates it is now a factor in escalating global temperatures, as stated in the 2024 Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Rick Thoman, a climate scientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, oversaw the editing of the report and mentioned that the NOAA report card similarly highlights steep declines in caribou populations.

“Specifically, the large migratory populations, such as the Western Arctic population, have experienced notable reductions in numbers, and they are not recuperating,” Thoman stated. “However, it’s not entirely negative. Some of the smaller coastal populations that migrate shorter distances have exhibited growth in numbers in recent years compared to the lows of a decade or two ago.”

He explained that the dwindling populations are the result of multiple factors tied to climate change. Increased winter precipitation can obstruct caribou foraging, while hotter summer climates result in the growth of larger plants that displace the lichen consumed by caribou.

Thoman pointed out that surface air temperatures are rising throughout the Arctic, and precipitation has increased, particularly in winter, because even slight increases in temperatures augment the capacity of the atmosphere to retain moisture.

He also noted that the average area of sea ice in the autumn was at a record low, which has led to heightened maritime activity.

“We have experienced numerous transits through the Northwest Passage. Consequently, the port of Nome has been extremely active, as we’ve observed over the recent years,” Thoman remarked. “A significant amount of traffic along the northern sea route.”

He indicated that the surge in vessel traffic raises the likelihood of a serious incident in the coastal waters of Alaska.

One notable positive outcome from the report is that ice seals continue to thrive, according to Thoman.

“Indeed, we’ve seen a reduction in sea ice, and there were a couple of particularly low years, specifically 2018 and ’19 in the Bering Sea.” Thoman conveyed. “Nonetheless, the overall health of ice seals remains quite strong. So I believe this is good news for the residents of Alaska.”

The Arctic report card released by NOAA encompassed research conducted from October 2023 to September 2024. Next year will mark the 20th consecutive year of report card publication.