![Warming may increase risk of rapidly intensifying hurricanes along U.S. East Coast](/sites/default/files/hurricanes_globalwarming_VWSchange_480x320.jpg)
During active hurricane eras, a persistent zone of high vertical wind shear along the U.S. East Coast provides protection from rapidly intensifying hurricanes. With high emissions, that shear is projected to relax.
In North Carolina's Outer Banks, the coastal Town of Nags Head is vulnerable to flooding from heavy rain events, hurricanes, tropical storms, nor’easters, and storm surge. To add insult to injury, vulnerability is increasing with sea level rise. Town managers and residents recognized the need to build the town's resilience and moved forward to prioritize and plan.
![Understanding climate: Antarctic sea ice extent](/sites/default/files/antarctica_dms_2009289_480x320.jpg)
Antarctic sea ice extent hit a record low extent in February, but thanks to large natural variability from year to year, experts say there is still no long-term trend.
![Antarctica is colder than the Arctic, but it’s still losing ice](/sites/default/files/glacier_bellinghausen_icebridge_480.jpg)
Antarctica has not responded as quickly to climate change as the Arctic, but Earth’s southernmost continent is still losing ice. Ice shelf disintegration and glacier acceleration in Antarctica could raise global sea level significantly, and the effects would be keenly felt along U.S. coastlines.
![National Climate Assessment map shows uneven impact of future global warming on U.S. energy spending](/sites/default/files/NCA4_figure4_2_energy_expend_adapted_480.png)
National Climate Assessment map shows uneven impact of future global warming on U.S. energy spending
If the world continues to follow a path with high greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. energy expenditures are projected to increase across much of the Lower 48.
![Warming winters and dwindling Sierra Nevada snowpack will squeeze water resources in parts of California](/sites/default/files/CA_snowpack_infographic_final_rotator_480.png)
A 1°C (1.8°F) increase in average winter air temperature will have a significant impact on Sierra Nevada snowpack, but different parts of the mountain range will respond differently.
![2018 Arctic Report Card: Visual highlights](/sites/default/files/brooks_range_road_480.jpg)
From declining reindeer populations to a younger, thinner ice pack, here are four image-based stories from the 2018 Arctic Report Card.
![2018 Arctic Report Card: Red tides and other toxic species expanding across the Arctic, increasing risks to marine mammals and humans](/sites/default/files/ARC_Dec_harmful_algal_blooms_rotator.jpg)
As oceans warm, harmful algal blooms move northward into regions where populations have little or no prior exposure.
![2018 Arctic Report Card: Less than 1 percent of Arctic ice has survived four or more summers](/sites/default/files/SeaIceAge_2018Rotator.jpg)
Unlike the rest of us, Arctic sea ice is younger and thinner than it was in the mid-1980s.
![2018 Arctic Report Card: Reindeer and caribou populations continue to decline](/sites/default/files/ARC_2018_RangiferHerds_480.png)
Reindeer and caribou abundance has declined 56 percent over the past two decades.