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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

PS. If you enjoy the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast, become a subscriber. Thanks for tuning in! Click here if you'd like to support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/951223/supporters/new

photo credit: Joana Kristin Steffens~finalist for Arctic Report Card Photo Contest

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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Long time contributor and climatologist, Brian Brettschneider, who works for the National Weather Service, provides in depth knowledge on why it was so windy in Palmer and Anchorage, Alaska for several days in a row recently.  Brian explains how NOAA plays an important role in forecasting weather for aviation as well as the public on how to be prepared for wind events, cold snaps and winter weather advisories. 

There were some record breaking winds at the Ted Steven's International Airport on December 15th, 2025, causing over 17 flights, both cargo and passenger flights, to divert to Fairbanks, Alaska. 

In this episode, Brian talks about having emergency preparedness in one's mindset, especially in winter. The next week leading up to Winter Solstice, December 21st, 2025 is expected to continue to be cold with high wind chills. Be sure to pack the car with essentials of boots, warm gloves, extra winter clothing,  hat, hand warmers, a head lamp, cell phone charger, sleeping bag, food and a shovel. 

Brian can be reached at: Brian.brettschneider@noaa.gov

Thanks for listening to the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast. 

Katie Writer

ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

Today's conversation is with climate specialist, Rick Thoman. Topics discussed include climate impacts on caribou herds of the Arctic, The Arctic Report Card 2024, Arctic ERMA, CAPRI, and the challenges Arctic communities face as marine traffic increases in the Arctic. 

Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).  Rick is a contributor and editor of the Arctic Report Card and was also awarded NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement in 2020. Rick was honored after a 30 plus year career with the National Weather Service for continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska and for outstanding outreach efforts working with the Alaska Native community.

The Arctic Report Card is an annual report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA). The efforts of scientists and climate specialists to create this robust scientific report every year is impressive.  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.

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 are the links to the 2023 Arctic Report Card and NOAA website:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2023/
The Arctic Report Card 2024 will be published on December 10th, 2024.

https://www.arctic.noaa.gov

Thanks for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast!

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

The Arctic Encounter Symposium celebrated it's 10th year in Anchorage, Alaska at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center.  Arctic leaders, policy makers and creatives gathered from April 10-12th, 2024 to discuss challenges and successes of the today's current events in the Arctic. This episode is about the importance of empowering storytelling of the Inupiaq and how their youth need positive role models that embody the values and traditions of their people.  Podcaster, Alice Glenn shares how she started Coffee and Quaq and how she has grown a world wide audience. Alice and her older sister, Patuk Glenn, Executive Director of the Arctic Slope Community Foundation, want to empower the youth of the Arctic to have pride and strength from their cultural identity.

Thank you, Rachel Kallander, founder & CEO of Arctic Encounter, for creating this incredible event. Congratulations on your 10th year and incredible leadership!

Here is the link to Alice's Coffee and Quaq Podcast: https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/podcast

Thank you, Alaska Climate & Aviation Podcast listeners for tuning in.
You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at: https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Sincerely, 

Katie Writer
journalist/pilot/photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

The Arctic Report Card is an annual report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA). The efforts of scientists and climate specialists to create this robust scientific report every year is impressive.  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.

Today's episode is a conversation with Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).  Rick is a contributor and editor of the Arctic Report Card and was also awarded NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement in 2020. Rick was honored after a 30 plus year career with the National Weather Service for continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska and for outstanding outreach efforts working with the Alaska Native community.

Rick discusses the greening tundra, the melting sea ice and the adaptability of the indigenous people and how helpful their generational observations are on the changing landscape of the North.

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 are the links to the 2023 Arctic Report Card and NOAA website:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/
https://www.arctic.noaa.gov
You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Thanks for tuning in to Alaska Climate & Aviation Podcast!

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

Lonnie Dupre is a polar explorer and mountaineer who has spent considerable time in cold climates. Over a span of 4 decades, Lonnie has witnessed tremendous changes of polar regions of the world due to global warming, including Greenland and Alaska. While Lonnie is mostly an adventurer, he is also an advocate for spreading the awareness of global warming.
Recently, the film AMKA, meaning "one with a friendly spirit"  in Inuktun was released. This heartwarming film is a story in which the relationship of dog team, the unsung heroes of the Arctic is highlighted.  Lonnie Dupre and his partnerJohn Hoelscher circumnavigated Greenland in 2001 by both dog team and by kayak. Lonnie returned in 2022 to work with the Inuit Hunters and Greenlandic Sled Dog in the making of this film.
Today's conversation with Lonnie discusses the film, AMKA, the Inuit dogs, the joy of adventuring by dog team and what he recommends for making a difference in curbing global warming : Get out and vote!

You can learn more about Lonnie from his website:  www.lonniedupre.com
Lonnie is grateful for his sponsors, Primaloft  http://www.PrimaLoft.com and Wintergreen.  https://www.wintergreen.com

Thank you for listening to the  Alaska Climate and Aviation's Podcast.
Aerial Photography of Alaska's wilderness can be seen at:
http://www.katiewritergallery.com

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

At the end of August, 2023, Alaska has been seeing some record continuous rainfall in Anchorage while South Central Alaska is experiencing flooding. Today's conversation with Climate Scientist, Brian Brettschneider, we discuss observations and challenges of the information age where people get overwhelmed by  weather overload.
While climate change can cause grief and despair, there is hope in how humans are working to overcome the challenges.
This episode includes what the summer highlights were as well as challenges on the North Slope when the fiber optics cable was damaged by sea ice.

Brian Brettschneider can be reached at: Brian.brettschneider@noaa.gov or bbrettschneider@outlook.com.

Thank you for listening to Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast!

Aerial Photography of Alaska's wilderness can be seen at:
http://www.katiewritergallery.com

Katie Writer
Podcaster/Pilot/Photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

The Arctic Encounter Symposium, 2023 has been completed! After tremendous teamwork by event organizers, Rachel Kallander and Jackson Blackwell and staff, this year's Arctic Encounters Symposium was hugely inspiring. It was held March 29-31, 2023 at the Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.
This episode brings you to the wonderful voices and sounds of this year's speakers, including indigenous leaders and people passionate about the Arctic.

The theme of mentoring and "Who are you bringing up the mountain?" is highlighted in this episode of All Cooped Up Alaska.
For more information, go to: http://www.arcticencounter.com

Thanks for tuning into All Cooped Up Alaska!
I can be reached at: ktphotowork@gmail.com
907/863-7669
Happy Spring!

Katie Writer
journalist/pilot/photographer
http://www.katiewritergallery.com

PS. Wondering where this Alaska theme podcast got it's name...? It came to be when a chicken coop was being built and became home of a podcast rather than chickens.

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

The Arctic Report Card is an annual report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA). The efforts of scientists and climate specialists to create this robust scientific report every year is impressive.  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.

Today's episode is a conversation with Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).  Rick is a contributor and editor of the Arctic Report Card and was also awarded NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement in 2020. Rick was honored after a 30 plus year career with the National Weather Service for continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska and for outstanding outreach efforts working with the Alaska Native community.

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 are the links to the 2022 Arctic Report Card and NOAA website:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/Report-Card-2022
https://www.arctic.noaa.gov
You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Thanks for tuning in to All Cooped Up Alaska!

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Photographer
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us Fan Mail

Eaglecrest Ski Area on Douglas Island near Juneau, Alaska hosted it's first IFSA Freeride Ski Event in March, 2022. This episode is conversations with IFSA Judge, Joe Turner, Eagle Crest Freeride Head Coach, Kevin Stell, and Eaglecrest General Manger, Dave Scanlan about the exceptional skiing of Junior Freeriders who travelled from all around the country to compete at Eaglecrest .. a new stop on the IFSA Freeride Junior Tour.

For more information: IFSA  https://www.ifsa.org  EagleCrest  https://www.skieaglecrest.com
For aerial photography and art: https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Thanks for tuning in and Happy Spring!

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Ski Coach
ktphotowork@gmail.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com