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The 20th edition of the Arctic Report Card was released on December 16th, 2025 with an impressive compilation of scientific reports on the Arctic.
Today's conversation is with editor and long-time contributor, Rick Thoman, who is an award winning climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness(ACCAP). Rick has attempted retirement more than once, but his passion for all things Arctic and climate fuel numerous newsletters and also news rooms as he is truly an expert on this topic. His positive impacts are felt amongst Arctic peoples and also for being a wonderful liaison between the scientific community and Arctic policy makers.
The Arctic Report Card is an annual report supported by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) with Pan-Arctic perspective and an independent editorial team. The efforts of scientists and climate specialists to create this robust scientific peer reviewed report is in Ricks words, "Herculean"! The amount of work contributed to this scientific document is extremely important in documenting climate change in the Arctic, which is warming at an alarming rate.
Rick discusses highlights that include surface air temperatures and impacts on intensity of storms, including Typhoon Halong, as well as terrestrial snow cover, Greenland Ice Sheet, sea ice, glaciers, marine algae, tundra greenness...all in relatable terminology from complex and hard earned scientific data.
The Report Card is intended for a wide audience, including scientists, teachers, students, decision-makers and the general public interested in the Arctic environment and science. It is encouraged that the Report Card to be utilized and studied, as the scientific community has created it to be an easily read report for the general population to better understand the complexities of the warming Arctic.
Here is the link to the 2025 Arctic Report Card:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/
This year held a photo contest for the cover of the Arctic Report Card:
https://globalocean.noaa.gov/2025-arctic-report-card-photo-video-contest/
Here is the full PFD on the 2025 Arctic Report Card.
https://arctic.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ArcticReportCard_full_report2025.pdf
Be sure to visit this year's Arctic Report Card 2025 for all of the in-depth scientific review of the things that have caught attention of this year's events.
Here is the executive summary of the 2025 Arctic Report Card:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/executive-summary-2025/
Thank you for listening the the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast!
Katie Writer
journalist/pilot/photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com
907/863-7669
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photo credit: Joana Kristin Steffens~finalist for Arctic Report Card Photo Contest
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You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com
