Key Findings:

While 2009 showed a slowdown in the rate of annual air temperature increases in the Arctic, the first half of 2010 shows a near record pace with monthly anomalies of over 4°C in northern Canada. There continues to be significant excess heat storage in the Arctic Ocean at the end of summer due to continued near-record sea ice loss. There is evidence that the effect of higher air temperatures in the lower Arctic atmosphere in fall is contributing to changes in the atmospheric circulation in both the Arctic and northern mid-latitudes. Winter 2009-2010 showed a new connectivity between mid-latitude extreme cold and snowy weather events and changes in the wind patterns of the Arctic; the so-called Warm Arctic-Cold Continents pattern.

Atmosphere

Arctic climate is impacting mid-latitude weather, as seen in Winter 2009-2010

Sea Ice

Summer sea ice conditions for previous four years well below 1980s and 1990s

Ocean

Upper ocean showing year-to-year variability without significant trends

Land

Low winter snow accumulation, warm spring temperatures lead to record low snow cover duration

Greenland

Record setting high temperatures, ice melt, and glacier area loss

Biology

Rapid environmental change threatens to disrupt current natural cycles

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Another important resource you should know about.

The Weather of the Future, scariest book I have read recently.