LEO Network

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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Low water in N.W.T. means cargo heading to northern communities via Tuk, not Hay River
Low water levels on the Mackenzie River are causing cargo shipments to use a different route to access northern communities, beginning in the Arctic Ocean.
Ulukhaktok, NWT
CBC

Alaska Native corporation ending involvement in controversial Ambler road project
An Alaska Native corporation is withdrawing from the Ambler road project due to concerns over environmental impact and subsistence practices, despite economic potential.
Ambler, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Dogs entering US must be 6 months old and microchipped to prevent spread of rabies, new rules say
New U.S. regulations require all dogs entering from abroad to be at least 6 months old and microchipped to mitigate rabies risks.
United States
AP News

Feds give Whitehorse $45M for 'permanent' solution to escarpment landslides
The article discusses a $45M federal investment in Whitehorse for a permanent solution to recurring escarpment landslides, highlighting the increasing threat of such events due to climate change.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Biden administration blocks Ambler Road, strengthens protections for NPR-A
The Biden administration has halted the Ambler Road project to protect wildlife and strengthen environmental safeguards in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, sparking mixed reactions.
Upper Kobuk River, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Juneau had a record-breaking cruise season last year. This year should be about the same.
Juneau implements a new daily limit of five large cruise ships to manage record-breaking tourism and address local concerns about traffic and quality of life.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

New work season opens for Denali Park Road bridge
The $100 million Pretty Rocks Bridge will cross the site of a landslide that has closed the road at Mile 45 since 2021.
Denali Park

Ice measuring in Kotzebue can help snowmachiners and scientists alike
The Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub and the Native Village of Kotzebue deployed an under-ice oceanographic instrument to monitor ice thickness and snow depth at a site offshore of town.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Study tracks calls used by endangered Cook Inlet belugas, and human-made noise in their habitat
The article discusses concerns over the impact of human-made noise on endangered Cook Inlet belugas and the debate over noise mitigation measures.
Cook Inlet, Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

What does a world full of EVs look like? Go to Norway
Norway's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is highlighted by nearly 8,000 fast-charging stations and incentives being scaled back due to success, with a focus now on electrifying transport trucks.
Norway
CBC

Avalanche warnings, closures continue as marathon storm leaves record snowfall
Juneau shatters snow record for Jan. 22; forecaster says avalanches “could begin to endanger homes.”
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Oil field road traffic disrupts North Slope caribou more than previously recognized
A study reveals that North Slope caribou are significantly more sensitive to oil field road traffic than previously thought, with disruptions occurring at traffic volumes as low as five vehicles per hour.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States
Alaska Beacon

Thinning ice and shrinking caribou hurt not only safety and food security but also mental health
Kotzebue Elder Gladys I’yiiqpak Pungowiyi said that over the years, many skilled hunters were lost when they went out hunting and fell through the ice. I’ve been called to pray for people that are affected mentally.”
Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

'Like being at a loud rock concert': study looks at how ship noise affects Arctic marine mammals |
A study reveals that increased ship noise in the Arctic disrupts the behavior and communication of marine mammals, impacting local wildlife and indigenous hunting practices.
Beaufort Sea

EPA wants to get the lead out of aviation gas. Alaska's U.S. senators say it's a bad move for the state.
Alaska's U.S. senators oppose the EPA's move to regulate and phase out leaded aviation gasoline, citing potential negative impacts on the state's travel and economy.
Alaska, United States

Alaska Airlines is pitching an 'eco-friendly' alternative to the mileage run this year. How green is it?
Alaska Airlines is promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mileage runs, though its effectiveness depends on production methods and it's not yet widely adopted or cost-competitive.
Alaska, United States

Climate change will deliver more heavy precipitation events to Southcentral. Is Anchorage prepared?
Anchorage faces record snowfalls and plowing challenges, raising concerns about its preparedness for future extreme precipitation events linked to climate change.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Emergency Phase Declared and Grindavík Evacuated
An emergency phase has been declared and the town of Grindavík in Iceland has been evacuated due to increased volcanic activity and damage from earthquakes, with residents being urged to seek safety in emergency relief centers.
Grindavík, Southern Peninsula, Iceland
Iceland Review

Snowstorm leaves aftermath of power outages; JBER Veterans Day ceremony canceled
A snowstorm in Southcentral Alaska causes power outages and leads to the cancellation of a Veterans Day ceremony, while crews work to clear roads and restore electricity.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

EPA plans to limit or eliminate salmon-killing tire chemical found in preliminary Alaska sampling
The EPA plans to limit or eliminate a chemical commonly used in car tires, known as 6PPD, after it was found to be fatal to salmon in preliminary Alaska sampling, in response to a petition from Native Tribes and several states, but the rulemaking process is expected to take years.

Extreme flooding on Alaska’s Arctic highway caused thaw-induced sinking in later years
Extreme flooding on Alaska's Arctic highway in 2015 caused thaw-induced sinking in the permafrost terrain up to 3 inches deep, with the most significant effects occurring in ice-rich areas, according to a newly published study.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea fishing group grapples with how to invest pollock profits in Western Alaska
Amid declining salmon runs, Coastal Villages Region Fund has shifted away from subsidizing village-based seafood processing. Coastal Villages used to pursue that mission in large part by operating smaller commercial fisheries for salmon and halibut. Each year, the fishing season was an opportunity to earn wages at the group’s processing facilities or for local fishermen to earn cash selling their catch — an economic lifeline for many families in one of the state’s poorest regions.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

New Ambler Road draft expands on potential problems
The U.S. Department of the Interior released a 1,200-page supplemental environmental impact study (EIS) on the proposed Ambler Access Road in Alaska, which reveals potentially greater social and environmental impacts than previously thought, including concerns about disrupting traditional hunting and fishing lifestyles and causing permafrost thaw.
Ambler, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Alaska watches, nervously, as Ukraine war pushes more Russian oil through Bering Strait
While the ships are free to pass through the Bering Strait, its 55-mile width means that any spills would be likely to drift toward Alaska communities.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Alaska to receive federal funds for fish-friendly culverts
The most-expensive project in the nationwide initiative is $25 million for Alaska to replace a dozen culvert sites along the Parks Highway.

As climate change transforms the Arctic, Homeland Security must adapt, official says
The forces of climate change that are reducing ice cover and opening up the Arctic to more activity are making Alaska more important in regards to Homeland Security. For the Department, which has a combination of public safety, emergency response and law-enforcement functions, climate change is creating new challenges for which old responses are no longer adequate.
The Arctic

Extreme heat affects some airline flights, workers
Extreme heat around the nation is affecting some flights departing from airports including Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Phoenix, which have had triple-digit temperatures this week.
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
The Brunswick News

As the climate warms, the face of Denali National Park changes
The damage wrought to the park’s road by melting permafrost is creating a new reality affecting visitors, park staff, local businesses and potentially wildlife.
Denali National Park, Alaska

Shishaldin volcano in Eastern Aleutians increases activity, draws monitoring
Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutians — it’s had nearly 30 eruptions since 1824.
Shishaldin Volcano

How e-bikes are becoming the norm on Anchorage trails
E-bikes offer riders added range, mobility and approachability. But they also potentially bring an added element of increased speed to mixed-use trails that are already buzzing with activity.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Study: Erosion has made the Bering Strait a meter deeper on the Alaska side than it used to be
A research project found that the Bering Strait is at least a meter deeper on the Alaska side than previously believed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The project evaluated new and old bathymetric surveys, applying modern technology to the latter to more accurately pinpoint locations.
Bering Strait
ArcticToday

Two icebreakers escort gas tanker in first summer shipment on Arctic route
Ice lies thick on the water as nuclear powered icebreakers "Sibir" and "Arktika" escort LNG carrier "Fedor Litke" into the Vilkitsky Strait en route to a Northeast Asian port.
Vilkitsky Strait, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Sail, solar panels, battery. Norwegian zero-emission cruise concept revealed
Hurtigruten Norway says the first zero-emission coastal cruise vessels will be sailing in 2030.
Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

Millions breathing hazardous air as smoke from Canadian wildfires streams south over US
The air quality index, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency metric for air pollution, exceeded a staggering 400 at times in Syracuse, New York City and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. A level of 50 or under is considered good; anything over 300 is considered “hazardous,” when even healthy people are advised to curtail outdoor physical activity.
New York City, New York, United States
AP NEWS

Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. But why?
Scientists think a traumatized orca initiated the assault on boats after a "critical moment of agony" and that the behavior is spreading among the population through social learning.
Straits of Gilbratar
livescience.com

Snowverloaded: Kenai Peninsula residents deal with extended winter
Since the first big winter storms, snow on the western Kenai Peninsula has collapsed roofs, broken gas meters and raised backcountry avalanche risk. “I think we can safely say that this was the most snow in any winter for the northwest Kenai Peninsula since the winter of 2011, 2012,” said Rick Thoman.
Soldotna, Alaska, United States

E-fuel: Norwegian invests in aviation fuel in Mosjøen as first in the country
Norwegian invests NOK 50 million to build Norway's first e-fuel factory. Airline company Norwegian thus hopes to reach its own climate goals, and using e-fuel rather than jet fuel.
Mosjøen, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Northwest Arctic and North Slope borough officials support Ambler road despite some local opposition
Ambler Elder Virginia Commack said that the borough's decision does not reflect the opinion of many Northwest Arctic residents. This month, almost 80 Northwest Arctic residents, current and former, signed the petition against the development of the Ambler road project. When the Alaska Department of Natural Resources held two public hearings last year, out of about 37 people who called, only two spoke in support of the project.
Ambler, Alaska, United States

A small but growing group of EV owners in Alaska show electric cars can work in the frigid north
Chugach Electric Association estimates there are more than 2,300 EVs (including plug-in hybrids) on the road in Alaska. That’s still a tiny percentage of the total cars, but in Anchorage alone, that number went up by 120% since June 2021. Drivers say modern EVs can handle the winter conditions just fine.

Flight disruptions continue Friday in Alaska as volcanic ash drifts from Russia
A long, thin cloud of ash began drifting toward the Aleutian Islands on Wednesday and continued east toward the Gulf of Alaska, where it caused major disturbances for air traffic starting Thursday. Volcanic ash is a danger to planes because it is abrasive and can cause engines to fail. Alaska Airlines canceled 51 flights that day, the company said in a statement. Alaska Airlines canceled 11 flights by 6 a.m. and said more are possible, with delays likely through the day.
Shiveluch Volcano

Ash from Russian Shiveluch Volcano cancels Alaska flights
Due to ash from the volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, Alaska Airlines canceled eight flights Wednesday between Anchorage and Western Alaska airports in Adak, Bethel, Dillingham and King Salmon.
Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Alaska extends studded-tire removal deadlines in wake of snowy winter
Drivers in much of Alaska including Anchorage will have until May 15 to remove studded tires; those in southern areas will have until May 1.

Airline passengers could be in for a rougher ride, thanks to climate change
In March, Ingrid Weisse, her husband and two young sons were aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 889, headed home from Portland, Ore. to Hawaii, when the Boeing 737 began buffeting so fiercely that it felt as if the plane would shake itself apart. The reason for this is clear-air turbulence, As global temperatures increase due to rising levels of greenhouse emissions such as carbon dioxide, the jet stream is experiencing more wind shear.
Pacific Ocean

Winter Travel, Access and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions
The Copper River Basin in Alaska has experienced less reliable snow and ice conditions in recent years, impacting winter activities such as trapping, hunting, and gathering firewood. This study, based on nine oral interviews with local residents, reveals that crossing rivers has become more treacherous and difficult, with significant changes in ice conditions observed since the 1970s. Decreased snowpacks and increased shrub growth have also posed obstacles for accessing winter trails, requiring individuals to cut through forests. These changes, combined with socio-economic and technological factors, have affected the way people engage in winter activities in the Copper River Basin. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of climate change's impact on winter activities in Alaska and the Circumpolar North.
Copper River Basin
Winter Travel, Access, and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions in Alaska’s Copper River Basin

Partial Easing of Evacuation Orders in East Fjords Announced
About 800 people have had to leave their homes due to the risk of avalanches in East Iceland.
Seyðisfjörður, East, Iceland
Iceland Review

Kotzebue ice is getting thinner but was still safe to travel
The ice outside of Kotzebue in the sound and further out into the Bering Sea is more like May Ice then March ice.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Is it possible to improve winter biking in Canada? Finland shows the way
Oulu has more than 900 kilometres of separated bike paths, which is comparable to Montreal. In the winter, the city plows this huge bike network by 6 a.m. every day and will plow multiple times a day if needed.
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland

Blizzard batters Northwest Alaska, causing infrastructure problems
In addition to blizzard conditions, Kotzebue residents have been experiencing power outages, water service interruptions and travel complications because of the storms.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Chugach State Park has been ‘loved to death.’ A ballot proposition aims to tackle longstanding problems
Amid an explosion in popularity, access points to the Chugach State Park are overwhelmed and underdeveloped, leading to a push for a new mechanism to handle chronic underfunding.
Chugach State Park

'Like a highway going right past us': Nome grapples with its future as Arctic shipping traffic increases
Residents wonder if a proposed port expansion will help or hinder efforts to address chronic social problems.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Arctic oilmen break through the ice to Tanalau
Ice lies thick on the Yenisey River as nuclear-powered icebreaker "Sibir" escorts a cargo ship to the remote terminal applied by oil company Rosneft
Yenisey River, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Baffinland critical of report that says shipping to blame for narwhal displacement
A new report predicts there will be almost no narwhal left in an area off the northeastern coast of Baffin Island this summer and says shipping traffic from the nearby Mary River iron ore mine is to blame. The mine's operator says it leaves out key information.
Baffin Islands, Canada

Atmospheric rivers are hitting the Arctic more often, and increasingly melting its sea ice
Atmospheric rivers, those long, powerful streams of moisture in the sky, are becoming more frequent in the Arctic, and they’re helping to drive dramatic shrinking of the Arctic’s sea ice cover.
Arctic
ArcticToday

Weeks after snowstorms, some Anchorage bus stops remain inaccessible
Six weeks after a series of snowstorms dumped more than three feet of snow, bus stops along a handful of state-maintained roads remain buried, forcing transit users to navigate deep, slippery drifts and towers of snow.

How far can $25 million go to relocate a community that’s disappearing into Alaska’s melting permafrost?
A recent Interior Department grant aims to help residents in Newtok move to higher ground, but it’s just a sliver of what’s needed.
Newtok, Alaska, United States
High Country News

December was Anchorage’s wettest and second snowiest on record
Climatologist Rick Thoman says climate change is driving this more extreme winter snowfall. As the oceans warm, more moisture evaporates into the air. Then, when the atmospheric conditions are right for a storm, that increased evaporation results in “heavier and heavier precipitation,” Thoman said. That’s in part why Anchorage saw 41.2 inches of snow last month, capping off its wettest year on record, according to the National Weather Service.

Anchorage is still struggling to remove snow, weeks after a trio of winter storms
City officials say crews have made progress. But there are challenges. Crews are currently focused on hauling snow from main streets that are near schools, said Kohlhase’s Thursday email. He said he hopes to get every school cleared by the time classes resume on Monday, Jan. 9.

Nome-Council Road passable again after suffering significant damage from severe September storm
Three weeks after ex-typhoon Merbok hit Western Alaska and breached the Nome-Council Road, Department of Transportation crews and local contractors finished their repairs.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Haines’ changing alpine permafrost
Alpine permafrost is thawing, according to an article by the National Science Foundation. This is bad news because thawing releases carbon dioxide and methane and because it can cause destabilization of the land, as a couple of northbound drivers found out last week when their car was buried in the slide at 23 miles, as reported in a Chilkat Valley News article.
Haines, Alaska, United States
KHNS Radio | KHNS FM

As support streams in, one village still accounting for what was lost in Western Alaska storm
Golovin was hurt worse than other places in the Norton Sound region by the remnants of typhoon Merbok as it swirled up through Bering Sea last weekend. Repairing the damage is going to take time — and the clock is ticking on winter’s arrival.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Typhoon Merbok pounded Alaska’s vulnerable coastal communities at a critical time
The powerful remnants of Typhoon Merbok pounded Alaska’s western coast on Sept. 17, 2022, pushing homes off their foundations and tearing apart protective berms as water flooded communities. Storms aren’t unusual here, but Merbok built up over unusually warm water. Its waves reached 50 feet over the Bering Sea, and its storm surge sent water levels into communities at near record highs along with near hurricane-force winds.
Bering Sea
ArcticToday

Western Alaska braces for strong storm and possible floods

Ancient disks revealed unsettled climate change in Svalbard
The temperature on the delar of Svalbard has risen to twice as fast as the time period known. No can forecast at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute document the greatest warming in the world.
Island of Karl XII, Spitsbergen
NRK

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