The Arctic Tundra is Now a Net Source of Carbon Dioxide

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Arctic Report Card, the Arctic tundra region has become a source of carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere, driven by a combination of microbial activity in thawing permafrost and emissions from wildfires, which are becoming more frequent.

In 2024, permafrost temperatures ranked highest on record at nearly half of Alaska’s long-term monitoring stations. Meanwhile, 2024 ranked as the second-highest year for wildfire emissions north of the Arctic Circle.

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