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

Trail-gating at the Nordic Super Bowl
Rainy sloppy conditions in Trondheim underscored the importance of the climate work. But the warm wet weather barely dampened the enthusiasm of the Norwegian crowd.
Trondheim, Trøndelag, Norway
NPR

‘The groundhog was wrong’: An Anchorage winter without snow
What a virtually snowless winter and early spring means for flower beds, car and ski trail maintenance, recreators, snowplowers and pooper scoopers in Anchorage.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Scientists witnessed a ‘Humpback Palooza’ in the Arctic. Local hunters worry about what that could mean for subsistence.
In recent years, researchers have documented salmon surviving in North Slope rivers, bowhead whales expanding their foraging grounds and humpbacks moving into the Arctic.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Scientists around the globe raise concerns as the U.S. stops sharing air quality data from its embassies
The decision worried some local scientists and experts who say the data was vital for people to be able to monitor air quality and their government’s progress in improving public health.
New Delhi, NCT, India
Anchorage Daily News

Ask a Wildlife Biologist: Why do moose lick cars?
Vehicles accumulate dirt, which has minerals, and minerals are hard to come by in the environment during winter. Salt could certainly be one of the minerals they seek as sodium is a driver of appetite, but it is possible it could be another type of mineral they’re after—hard to say for sure without getting a profile of the dirt.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

An ‘exceptional’ warning for Alaska: wildfire danger in early March
Scant snow is giving way to shaggy brown grass normally not seen until spring breakup, raising concerns now that conditions are increasingly ripe for a fast-moving fire at a time of year usually deep in the grip of winter.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Red king crabs hurt by acidic trend in Bering Sea, study suggests
A new study from Kodiak’s NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center links ocean acidification to a significant decline in red king crab populations in the Bering Sea, challenging the view that warming is the primary stressor.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Atlantification ushering in new era of sea ice loss in the Siberian Arctic
Warm Atlantic waters are rapidly reshaping the Siberian Arctic, sparking an era of unprecedented sea ice loss—something that will have ongoing implications for the region’s ecosystem and climate, says new research.
Barents Sea
The Barents Observer

February expected to end with least snowfall on record for Anchorage
Anchorage is on track to finish February with the least snowfall on record as mild temperatures prevail without measurable snow. Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey explains the unusual winter pattern with far less snowfall than expected.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
KTUU

OU scientist finds Arctic storms are the hidden force melting polar ice
An OU scientist explains how powerful Arctic cyclones are breaking up thin sea ice in rapid bursts, a phenomenon that challenges existing climate models.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Climate Shrinking Glaciers Faster Than Ever, with 6.5 Trillion Tonnes Lost Since 2000
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.
Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories, Canada
Eye on the Arctic

Early snowmelt could accelerate Alaska’s wildfire seasons, UAF research says
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.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Biologist reports on mass murre die-off
A mass marine heat wave, known as 'the Blob', decimated the food supply for common murres, leading to an estimated 4 million bird deaths, according to biologist Heather Renner.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Think sled dog racing is fading? In Alaska’s mushing-crazy Kuskokwim Delta, it’s booming.
Despite the decline of sled dog racing elsewhere, the Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska is experiencing a resurgence, with increased sponsorships, substantial prize money, and strong community support sustaining the sport amid challenging climate conditions.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Microplastics in Fetal Tissues of Alaska Spotted Seals
New UAF research reveals that microplastics are transferred from pregnant spotted seals to their fetuses, raising concerns about plastic pollution in remote Arctic marine mammals.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Large Parts of Arctic No Longer Carbon Storage, Now Net Source of Emissions
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.
Northwest Territories, Canada, Canada
High North News

Trying to make sense of wild winds and a weird winter
Gardening columnist Jeff Lowenfels explains how trees are built to survive extreme high winds.

Norwegian coastal waters are getting warmer
Long-term data from eight coastal stations over the past 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal waters have warmed by up to 2°C, impacting local fisheries and marine life.
Kirkenes, Finnmark, Norway
The Barents Observer

Norwegian coastal waters are getting warmer
Data collected over 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal water temperatures have increased by up to 2°C, a shift that is impacting marine ecosystems and local fishing practices.
Tromsø, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

How a warming climate is part of a shift in sled dog genetics
The article explores how climate change has influenced sled dog genetics, leading to a shift from traditional, thick-coated breeds to leaner, faster dogs better suited for warmer conditions, impacting the tradition of dog mushing in Alaska.
Alaska, United States

An exceptionally dry year stresses Anchorage businesses dependent on snow
Snow-dependent businesses in Anchorage are struggling as an unusually dry winter with record low snowfall forces snow removal and outdoor gear companies to scale back operations.

Stinky, slimy salmon toss vital for PKOLS-Mount Doug restoration
The annual toss of salmon carcasses helps provide essential nutrients for Douglas Creek as part of restoration efforts.
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK News

One hundred years ago, dogs came to the rescue of Nome
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.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

The Armed Forces will defend birds: Hanging up 1000 bird boxes
The Norwegian Armed Forces are installing 1,000 bird boxes to address the shortage of nesting sites for cavity-nesting birds, a move praised by BirdLife Norge but contrasted with criticism of the government's broader seabird conservation plan for lacking concrete actions.
Norway
NRK

Wood frogs are once again singing, a springtime delight
On the last Sunday in April, I received a brief but exciting message. “Frogs are singing,” Barbara Carlson notified me.
The Anchorage Press

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