Background Articles

Seismic activity at the Sundhnúk crater row has intensified with over 20 earthquakes recorded in the past 24 hours, while a separate swarm in Öxarfjörður is being closely monitored.

Anchorage School District has activated its Emergency Operations Center and released a preparedness plan for a potential eruption of Mount Spurr, located 75 miles west of Anchorage.

The City of Ketchikan is recovering from a landslide that displaced hundreds of residents, prompting swift emergency responses and community cooperation, though no injuries were reported.

A new study finds that mountain glaciers are melting at more than twice the rate observed in the early 2000s, with over 6.5 trillion tonnes of ice lost since 2000 and record losses in 2023.

Research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks indicates that early snowmelt, driven by climate change, could lead to more extreme wildfire seasons in Alaska, with the southern regions experiencing earlier fire starts than usual.

Communities in Southeast Alaska, especially in Haines, are employing new landslide risk maps to guide future development decisions after recent deadly events and extreme weather. The science-backed tool aims to help residents and local authorities gauge areas more prone to landslides.

Mount Churchill in Alaska has a history of explosive eruptions that sent ash across continents, and experts warn that a similar event today could disrupt air travel and regional life.

A new study reveals that climate change has shifted large parts of the Arctic from a carbon sink to a net carbon emitter, with up to 40% of tundra, boreal forests, and wetlands releasing more CO2 than they absorb.

The article recounts the extraordinary 1925 dog sled relay that delivered diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, amid a severe epidemic, highlighting the centennial of this historic event and the heroic efforts of mushers and their dogs who braved harsh conditions to save lives.

The Western Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska is declining due to shrubification linked to climate change, while the Porcupine Caribou Herd is thriving due to stable tundra conditions.

Maine's investigation into PFAS contamination from sludge-based fertilizer has discovered the chemicals on over 100 farms, posing potential health risks.

Warming temperatures across the Arctic are causing permafrost to thaw and the ground to sink, prompting a new study to call for improved monitoring of these changes.

Warming temperatures are causing the ground to sink across parts of the Arctic, and a new study is urging better monitoring to track these dramatic changes."Our findings suggest that permafrost landscapes are undergoing geomorphic change that is impacting hydrology, ecosystems, and human infrastru

Environmental experts are worried the cumulative effects of gas, oil and fuel spills aren't being adequately tracked in parts of the North. Last year, Nunavut and N.W.T. together recorded hundreds of contaminant spills, some of them small and others in the thousands of litres.

A part of a pedestrian bridge collapsed onto the Seward Highway in Anchorage due to high winds, blocking the highway temporarily, though the bridge's main structure remained intact. No injuries were reported.

A new conservation initiative allows the Nuiqsut community and its Native corporation to oversee 1 million acres around Teshekpuk Lake to protect caribou habitat from oil drilling impacts.

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is constructing 100 artificial beaver dams by 2025 to encourage beaver population growth and restore wetland ecosystems.

Land uplift in Svartsengi continues at a steady rate, linked to ongoing magma accumulation, with increased volcanic activity expected.

The Arctic tundra, which historically acted as a carbon sink, is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs due to permafrost warming and increased wildfires, as reported in the NOAA 2024 Arctic Report Card.

The EPA has designated portions of the Upper Columbia River as a Superfund site due to pollution primarily from Canadian industrial sites, opening up federal funding for cleanup.