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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

Residents in West Dawson say lack of reliable options to cross Yukon River leaves them at risk
People living in West Dawson are urging the Yukon government to do more to support them while they wait for the Yukon River to freeze over, and provide them with reliable access to emergency services.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
CBC

OPINION: To defend democracy — and our climate — we have to vote for it
The article emphasizes the importance of voting for climate-conscious leadership in the wake of unusual and severe flooding in an Arctic community during winter.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

After flood, Kotzebue residents take stock of damaged homes and property, and take care of one another
At least 30 houses still needed repairs, cleanup was ongoing, and the city’s residents grappled with the need to fix snowmachines, keep their soaked houses warm and prepare for future emergencies.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Red king crab harvest looking ‘very good’ so far for Bristol Bay fleet
“Fishing has been very good for the [Bristol Bay red king crab] fleet this season and the crab delivered so far has been of high quality — new shell, large size, good meat-fill,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Management Biologist Ethan Nichols.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
KUCB

At the floating nuclear power plant, one of the reactors was automatically turned off
One of the reactors at a floating nuclear power plant in Pevek, Russia, was automatically shut down due to an unspecified issue.
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Power supply was restored in the village of Rytkuchi, flooded by the storm
Power was restored in Rytkuchi, Chukotka after a storm caused village-wide flooding.
Рыткучи, Чаунский район, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

For more than a century, a fish plant fueled King Cove’s economy. Without it, can the community survive?
The seafood industry around the world has faced market turmoil. Few Alaska communities have been hit harder than King Cove.
King Cove, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

'The Russians are compromising security on Northern Sea Route'
Despite rapidly freezing Arctic waters, Moscow continues to send more than 20 years old ships without ice class to the Northern Sea Route. 'They are compromising security,' a Norwegian professor in ice navigation says.
Bering Strait

September was unusually warm
There were a total of eight days when the temperature nudged over 25 degrees, which is regarded in Finland as the threshold for "hot" weather. The sunny weather brought many warm early autumn days.
Finland
News

Dunleavy declares emergency as erosion threatens Noatak's drinking water
The erosion that prompted Gov. Mike Dunleavy's action is advancing on the Northwest Alaska community's water lines.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Magnet fishing catches on with a group of Bethel high school students
Bethel high school students in the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program have taken up magnet fishing, retrieving over 50 bikes and various other items from Brown's Slough.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

In Canada's boreal forests, the heat goes on — long after the wildfire is gone
A study reveals that large wildfires in Canada's boreal forests cause prolonged ground warming for over a decade, with implications for climate change feedback loops.
Canada
CBC

Why an Alaska island is using peanut butter and black lights to find a rat that might not exist
The purported sighting caused a stir on St. Paul Island, a birding haven sometimes called the "Galapagos of the North" for its diversity of life. That's because stowaway rats can quickly populate and overrun remote islands, devastating bird populations.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
CBC

Climate change makes farming easier in Alaska. Indigenous growers hope to lead the way
First frosts are already arriving later in some parts of the state, allowing growers to keep their crops in the field longer. Research done at the University of Alaska Fairbanks predicts the growing season could be weeks or even months longer by 2100. A new training program in the Interior aims to help Alaska Native communities grow more of their own food.
Nenana, Alaska, United States
KTOO

New study warns permafrost thaw along Yukon River could release high levels of mercury
Researchers believe that if permafrost thaw continues at its current rate and mercury keeps being released, it could pose a real threat to many communities throughout northern and western Alaska.
Huslia, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Marquee Alaska sockeye run was bigger than expected, but the individual fish were small
Alaska's largest sockeye salmon run exceeded expectations in numbers but featured the smallest fish on record, posing challenges for commercial harvest.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States

Permafrost thaw is an existential threat for Alaska communities. This nonprofit helps monitor it
Permafrost Pathways started two years ago with the goal of mapping the permafrost thaw and putting that data into the hands of the communities themselves. As human-caused climate change continues to warm the region and the permafrost melts more and more, the project is expanding.
Akiak, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Moose hunting closed for 22C and 22D
Moose hunting in Alaska's Game Units 22C and 22D was closed after hunters quickly reached the quota, with a record 40 moose harvested in 22C in just two days.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Hunting area expands for this years caribou season
The caribou population on the Nushagak Peninsula is thriving, with an estimated 600 caribou in the herd.
Togiak, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Arctic residents face high risk from toxic effects of plastics, ACAT report finds
The ACAT report reveals that the Arctic Ocean Basin has the highest global concentration of microplastics, posing significant health risks to local wildlife and residents.
Arctic

New research uses 130 years of historic flood observations to help identify future risks
This research compiles over a century of local flood data in Alaska to improve future flood risk prediction and planning, addressing the lack of accessible historic flood information for community and regional use.
Western and Northern, Alaska, United States

‘Just terrifying’: As Ketchikan residents take stock after fatal landslide, geologists assess stability
The slide Sunday afternoon just above the Southeast Alaska city’s downtown sent tons of debris and mud onto a half-dozen homes, killing one person and injuring three.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Timeline: A decade of deadly and destructive Alaska landslides
Landslides have killed at least 12 Alaskans in the past decade and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Trying to escape sea-level rise, Northwest coastal tribes are drowning in paperwork
A new study shows how federal grant funding has actually become an obstacle to climate adaptation.
Tokeland, Washington, United States
High Country News

Anchorage sees one of wettest summers on record
An additional half an inch of rain could fall through the end of the week as Anchorage is seeing one of its wettest summers on record.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Tularemia Associated with Harbor Seal Necropsy
In 2023, tularemia occurred in a wildlife volunteer after exposure to a deceased, infected harbor seal, the first known report of tularemia acquired through contact with a marine mammal, and the first detection of F. tularensis in a marine mammal.
Enetai, Washington, United States
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Where mosquito season is getting longer
The Northeast, which has warmed faster than the rest of the country, saw the biggest jump in mosquito days. Look up how mosquito season has changed in your town.
Houston, Texas, United States
Washington Post

Methane coming from unknown source under Kluane glaciers
Findings from European scientists were published in a journal late last year.
Kluane National Park
Yukon News

Satellite images reveal worrying scale of Svalbard glaciers loss
During this summer, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard has been melting five times faster than normal. "Svalbard is a hotspot for Arctic warming", experts warn.
Nordaustlandet
The Independent Barents Observer

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