Can we step back for a second and, and explain why we care about what's happening in the Arctic? Because to, to many people in the lower 48, they might think this is just a distant place that they'll never go to, and who cares really what happens up there? Why is it gonna impact me?

Well, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.

Changes that we see happening with permafrost or frozen ground, also changes with sea ice that forms on the surface of the Arctic Ocean, those changes actually themselves influence the weather we experience down here in the lower 48.

But we can also see because the Arctic is warming so quickly, we're seeing a lot of increase in geopolitical tensions, an increased attention to security and military activity in the Arctic.

And that means that the Arctic has become a US administration priority in regards to paying attention to security, international relations, changes with shipping, and also economic development in the area.

What is the argument that you make to, to legislators, and how do they respond to you when they see substantive cuts like this going on?

I think that many representatives really clearly understand how valuable environmental intelligence is for making decisions right now, especially in a world that is changing quickly and giving us many different risks and hazards that we have never faced before.

And so I honestly hold onto hope that we may still have a pathway to see the Arctic Report Card as a NOAA report.

Can we step back for a second and, and explain why we care about what's happening in the Arctic? Because to, to many people in the lower 48, they might think this is just a distant place that they'll never go to, and who cares really what happens up there? Why is it gonna impact me?

Well, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.

Changes that we see happening with permafrost or frozen ground, also changes with sea ice that forms on the surface of the Arctic Ocean, those changes actually themselves influence the weather we experience down here in the lower 48.

But we can also see because the Arctic is warming so quickly, we're seeing a lot of increase in geopolitical tensions and increased attention to security and military activity in the Arctic.

And that means that the Arctic has become a US administration priority in regards to paying attention to security, international relations, changes with shipping, and also economic development in the area.

What is the argument that you make to, to legislators, and how do they respond to you when they see substantive cuts like this going on?

I think that many representatives really clearly understand how valuable environmental intelligence is for making decisions right now, especially in a world that is changing quickly and giving us many different risks and hazards that we have never faced before.

And so I honestly hold onto hope that we may still have a pathway to see the Arctic Report Card as a NOAA report.

As the sea ice melts, are we seeing the, the routes across the Arctic open up? And what are the effects of some of that?

Yes.

W- w- the changes in sea ice for the Arctic Ocean have meant very substantial changes for ship traffic.

The northern sea route goes along the coast of Russia.

That's where we're seeing kind of sea ice pull back m- sooner, and Russia has been making substantial use of that northern sea route.

We are having record ship traffic there.

I was seeing that actually just September 2025, China announced the beginning of a container ship route that will have multiple stops in UK and Europe.

Is the warming in the Arctic impacting weather events down here in the, in the lower 48, so to speak?

As the sea ice melts, are we seeing the, the routes across the Arctic open up? And what are the effects of some of that?

Yes.

W- w- the changes in sea ice for the Arctic Ocean have meant very substantial changes for ship traffic.

The northern sea route goes along the coast of Russia.

That's where we're seeing kind of sea ice pull back, m- sooner, and Russia has been making substantial use of that northern sea route.

We are having record ship traffic there.

I was seeing that actually just September 2025, China announced the beginning of a container ship route that will have multiple stops in UK and Europe.

Is the warming in the Arctic impacting weather events down here in the, in the lower 48, so to speak?