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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

Gardeners, Academic at Odds on How to Best Deal with Growing Japanese Beetle Population
Japanese beetles are aggressively feeding on ornamental and edible plants in the Halifax area, prompting debate between experts who recommend labor-intensive hand removal and gardeners using pheromone traps that may attract more beetles.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
CBC News

Tick observations double compared to last year – permanent tick population established in Rovaniemi
Tick observations in Lapland have doubled year-on-year, and a University of Turku study reports that a stable tick population is now established in Rovaniemi.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

In Photos: The Aftermath of the Historic Earthquake in Russia's Far East
Photos show flooding and structural damage in Severo-Kurilsk and Kamchatka after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake and tsunami struck Russia’s Far East on July 30, 2025.
Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
The Moscow Times

More Torbay homes show high PFAS levels in water after summer retesting, lawyer calls for hydrogeological study
Retesting of private wells in Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador found more homes above the 30 ng/L PFAS limit, prompting calls for a full hydrogeological study of groundwater contamination linked to firefighting foam from St. John’s International Airport.
Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
SaltWire

Pink salmon trap 'closes' river in Nord-Troms
Reisa Elvelag has installed the country’s largest floating grate trap across the Reisa River in Nordreisa, blocking the river on July 26 and capturing 30 pink salmon within hours.
Nordreisa, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Shrimp catches have fallen significantly
Shrimp biomass in Greenland has declined significantly over the past two years, prompting major fishing companies and the fisheries organization QAK to call for industry adaptations.
Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland
Sermitsiaq

Dead cod found in Iqaluit were likely trapped by low tide
Hundreds of cod were found dead near Iqaluit’s deepsea port after likely being trapped at low tide, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Toxin associated with amnesic shellfish poisoning not detected in Kachemak Bay mussels
Alaska DEC tests of mussels from Kachemak Bay found no domoic acid toxin associated with amnesic shellfish poisoning, though mussels can quickly expel the toxin so its presence in other species remains uncertain.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Glaciers melting quicker as N.W.T. copes with record low waters
A UNBC study finds glaciers feeding the Slave River watershed are melting twice as fast as a decade ago, contributing to record low water levels in Northwest Territories rivers, while GNWT officials expect short-term stability from snowmelt and summer rains.
Northwest Territories, Canada
Yukon News

After Chernobyl – new measurements of radioactive fish
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority returns to Vittersjön near Ockelbo to conduct updated measurements of radioactivity in fish 35 years after Chernobyl, urging anglers to submit summer catches for analysis.
Ockelbo, Gävleborg, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

June salmon harvest in the southern Alaska Peninsula was the worst in decades
Sockeye salmon, the primary target species, came in at under half a million fish last month. That's less than a third of the 10-year average. Meanwhile, Fish and Game is putting more restrictions on the fishery.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Severe hailstorm sweeps through Calgary
A severe hailstorm in Calgary on July 13, 2025, caused $92 million in insured damage, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of such events in Alberta's "Hail Belt" and underscoring the need for improved risk management and climate resilience strategies.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Paralytic shellfish poisoning moves beyond Alaska’s shoreline
Researchers are finding the poisonous toxin throughout the year, and in animals away from the ocean.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
KUCB

Tick found on the Avalon tests positive for Lyme disease, but province says risk for residents remains low
A tick found on the Avalon Peninsula tested positive for Lyme disease, but provincial health authorities say the risk to residents remains low.
Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
PNI Atlantic News

Catches of salmon in Chukotka exceed the indicators of previous years
Salmon catches in Chukotka have significantly surpassed previous years' records, with a notable increase of 64.5% compared to 2023, highlighting an unexpected abundance in the region's fishery.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
prochukotku.ru

Ottawa spends $3.2M to protect Gilford Island village from erosion, flooding
The Village of Gwa’yas’dums on Gilford Island will receive over $3.2 million from the Canadian federal government to reinforce its shoreline against climate-driven erosion and coastal flooding.
Village of Gwa’yas’dums, Gilford Island, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Wild orcas have been trying to feed people, new research shows
On more than 30 occasions and across four oceans, orcas have attempted to share their prey with people, potentially to develop relationships with humans, researchers have found.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Anchorage Daily News

State disaster declared for destructive wildfires in Denali Borough
Areas north of Healy remained under evacuation orders though fire activity slowed since flaring to life last week. Evacuation alerts in several areas north of Fairbanks were reduced Thursday.
Healy, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Lemmings - Little Tundra Conductors
Wrangel Island is an Arctic ark, home to two unique species of endemic lemmings. The success of the season for many other inhabitants of the harsh region depends on the lemmings. In years of high numbers, they eat up to 80% of the plant biomass, radically changing the appearance of the landscape.
Wrangel Island, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

Federal government will allow more harm to polar bears near oil facilities
A new rule, scheduled to take effect Thursday, follows a series of lawsuits brought by environmental groups claiming that the federal government failed to adequately justify prior rules that allowed lower levels of harassment.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

New Trap to Stop Pink Salmon in the Tana River
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute begins building a trap at Seida to sort out invasive pink salmon migrating up the Tana River.
Seida, Tana Municipality, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Juneau gets its first-ever ‘severe thunderstorm’ warning from the Weather Service
At 3:10 p.m. Monday, a wind gust of 60 mph was clocked atop the Juneau Federal Building in downtown Juneau.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Fish Hatchery Ships Over 60,000 Nelma Fingerlings for Release into Lake Keta
On June 11, 2025, a Norilsk fish incubation plant delivered more than 60,000 nelma juveniles to be released into Lake Keta as part of Nornickel’s ongoing efforts to replenish regional fish stocks.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Taimyr Telegraph

Juneau installs miles of temporary barriers after devastating glacial floods
A longer-term fix could still be years away and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Fairbanks sees improved air quality after decade of effort
A combination of cold air and geography traps wood smoke pollution in Fairbanks. Drier firewood and more efficient stoves are helping.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Trump moves to lift Biden-era curbs on drilling in National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
The measure would open up new opportunities for oil and gas development in the 23-million-acre NPR-A, which is home to an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
National Petroleum Reserve

Francisella tularensis Subspecies in Stranded Beluga Whales, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Although Cook Inlet belugas are known to be susceptible to a variety of bacterial pathogens (10), F. tularensis has not been previously detected in this population, or in other cetaceans. The pattern of pathology represents the pulmonary form of tularemia, and the route of exposure was likely inhalation of contaminated water. F. tularensis is primarily a disease associated with freshwater, but the brackish nature of Cook Inlet and nearshore residence of belugas expose them to potentially contaminated freshwater runoff as well as to other reservoirs typically associated with freshwater (e.g., aquatic rodents, mosquito larvae) (1,2). The cause of the infections in a previously unreported host is unknown; however, host factors such as immunosuppression or environmental changes, such as increased runoff, could be considered.
Cook Inlet, Alaska
Emerging Infectious Diseases

30 day emergency closure enacted on Y-K Delta migratory bird hunt
The spring hunt of any waterfowl except scoters will be closed beginning May 30 at 12:01 a.m. through midnight on June 29. Scoter harvest will be closed between June 4 and July 4.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

How a young engineer navigated permafrost to develop one of most ambitious and uncertain projects in the world
More than 50 years ago, Elden Johnson helped guide construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, which snakes above and below ground for 800 miles.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Ticks are surging and spreading across the U.S. – here’s how to protect yourself
Tick populations are surging in the United States. Binghamton University experts offer tips to avoid tick bites. -
Binghamton, New York, United States
Ticks are surging and spreading across the U.S. – here’s how to protect yourself | Binghamton News - Binghamton University

Over 660 tons of salmon were allowed to be caught by the indigenous people of Chukotka
The total recommended salmon catch for all types of fishing this year amounted to 1300.2 tons, which is 29% more than last year. Of these, 346 tons of pink salmon, 498.8 tons of chum salmon and 455.4 tons of sockeye salmon.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Kipnuk searches for answers after loss of $20M grant to address erosion
After years of assessments, a major step forward in riverbank stabilization for the Kuskokwim Delta coastal community has been derailed by wide-ranging cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

White geese are prepared for monitoring in the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve
According to the reserve, in the last decade, the number of white goose in Chukotka has increased. Every spring, about 700 thousand of these birds fly to the island. Previously, this species was endangered and was listed in the Red Book, and now it is a common hunting species. - При перепечатке информации с сайта prochukotku.ru ссылка на первоисточник обязательна.
Wrangel Island

Opinion: The mystery of Anchorage’s missing songbirds
The paucity of common resident avian species, especially songbirds, was one more peculiar element of an unusually strange Anchorage winter. And, arguably, early spring. Local birders, biologists and watchers all noticed something was off.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Toxic algal blooms in Southeast will likely become less predictable with warming seas
Sitka had an early bloom that led to high shellfish toxins in April, and there is currently a paralytic shellfish toxin advisory across Southeast for recreational and subsistence harvest.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
KTOO

As Alaska warms, Arctic geese are skipping their southern migration
Warming temperatures and declining ice cover at Izembek Lagoon are leading thousands of Pacific black brant to overwinter in the Bering Sea instead of flying to southern wintering grounds.
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States
KUCB

Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica in Stranded Beluga Whales, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA
Emerging Infectious Diseases journal

Sheefish habitat is expanding, study finds
A staple fish that fills freezers in Northwest Arctic could be expanding its habitat
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Controlled burning in effect on Anchorage’s Hillside
State fire crews began a 35-acre prescribed burn on Anchorage’s Hillside May 12 between Hilltop Ski Area and the Prospect Heights Trailhead, expecting visible smoke and temporary trail closures.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Cost estimates rising for permafrost-related damage to Alaska roads and buildings
Better knowledge and mapping of existing infrastructure is leading to a new estimate of future thaw costs under varying climate scenarios.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Alaska shellfish toxin testing project halted during federal review
The Knik Tribe's monitoring program for paralytic shellfish poisoning was paused in April as the federal government investigates its legitimacy for funding.
Knik, Alaska, United States

Arctic sea ice has been hitting record lows. Scientists just lost a critical tool for studying it.
According to an internal budget document, the Trump administration is seeking to end nearly all of NOAA's climate research.
Alaska, United States

Mercury levels in Nunavik permafrost lower than expected: Study
Newspaper of record for Nunavut, and the Nunavik territory of Quebec
Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Wolverines making stealthy return to southern Finland
A young wolverine found in a shed in downtown Turku in January was still exceptional. “Wolverines occasionally wander around southwestern Finland. However, the population is concentrated in the east, where conditions are more peaceful,” said Pinja-Emilia Lämsä, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle News

Przewalski’s Horse to Be Reintroduced to Numrug Strictly Protected Area Under the Auspices of the President of Mongolia
Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and the Prague Zoo director agreed on a project to reintroduce Przewalski’s horses to the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Dornod aimag, building on three decades of conservation cooperation.
Khalkhgol, Dornod, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

75% of North America’s bird species are in decline, study says
Birds are rapidly vanishing from North America, with dramatic population losses in places that were once thought safe.
North America
Washington Post

Additional days of salmon fishing are proposed to be allocated this season for the indigenous people of Chukotka
The Far Eastern Scientific and Fishery Council (FESPC) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, supported a possible increase in the number of fishing days for representatives of indigenous peoples in the river basin of the Anadyr estuary from the first week of July until the end of the fishery.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Kuskokwim breakup proceeds at rapid pace for middle-river communities
The Kuskokwim River breakup has reached Sleetmute and Red Devil more than 200 miles downstream in five days—about five days ahead of schedule—with low flooding potential reported for middle-river communities.
Middle Kuskokwim River, Alaska, United States
KYUK

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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
The Anchorage Press

Emperor and Black Brant geese harvests restricted due to low population
The Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and the Pacific Flyway Council have closed harvesting and egging of Emperor geese and restricted egging of Black Brant geese for the 2025 hunting season due to declining populations.
Yukon Delta, Alaska
KYUK

Disappearing Nunatsiavut sea ice continues as climate change dramatically alters Labrador landscape
Sea ice in Nunatsiavut is forming later and melting sooner, disrupting Inuit travel, hunting and culture; the SmartICE program combines technology and traditional knowledge to help communities adapt.
Nain, Nunatsiavut, Canada
CBC News

Wild Reindeer Threatened by Tourists and Early Spring: “This Can’t Continue!”
An expert warns that early snowmelt and increasing ski tourism in vulnerable high‑altitude calving areas on Hardangervidda and Nordfjella are disturbing Norway’s wild reindeer during their critical breeding season.
Hardangervidda and Nordfjella, Buskerud, Norway
NRK

Unpredictable Alaska winter and spring keep gardeners guessing
We have a lot of phenological events, but how much snow and when it falls are not part of that scheme. If you did not mulch last fall, you are going to lose some and maybe many of your perennials.

Rare thunderstorm near the North Pole: A sign of a warming Arctic?
Thunderstorms are rare in the cold, dry Arctic, but a surprising event in August 2019 has scientists rethinking how these storms form in polar regions. A team of researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China has uncovered new insights into this phenomenon.
North Pole
Phys.org

Sharp fall in rare bird (Slavonian grebe) numbers at loch beauty spot sparks water access restrictions consultation
Highland Council is consulting on water activity restrictions at Loch Ruthven after a dramatic decline in the breeding Slavonian grebe population was recorded.
Loch Ruthven, Farr, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Anxiety Drugs Found in Rivers Make Salmon Take More Risks
A new study reports that Atlantic salmon exposed to the anti-anxiety drug clobazam during migration became bolder, passing through hydropower dams faster, though this behavior might increase predation risk later.
River Dal, Sweden
KBBI

Glacial retreat exposes over 1,500 miles of new Arctic coastline, study finds
A new international study finds that Arctic glacier retreat between 2000 and 2020 has unveiled over 1,500 miles of coastline—primarily in Greenland—potentially increasing coastal hazards and contributing to sea level rise.
Arctic, Northern Hemisphere
The Barents Observer

The great hollow of Minto Flats
Ned Rozell’s article explores the vast, geologically intriguing Minto Flats near the village of Minto in Alaska, detailing its unusual gravitational characteristics, seismic history, and significance as a prime waterfowl habitat.
Minto, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Water testing increased after 96‑litre fuel spill in Baker Lake, Nunavut
Residents of Baker Lake remain under a boil‑water advisory after 96 litres of heating fuel spilled near the community’s water intake, prompting increased sampling and monitoring.
Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

Warm March accelerates spring blooms
A warm March has triggered an early spring bloom in Finland with wood anemone and common hepatica appearing ahead of their usual schedule.
Various locations, Finland, Finland
Yle News

Polar bears on Svalbard tend to leave dens earlier
A new study finds that polar bears in Svalbard are beginning to leave their dens with cubs one week earlier than before 2016, a trend that may be linked to climate change and the resulting loss of sea ice.
Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway
Eye on the Arctic

Fairbanks student digs into the mystery of a CO2-breathing forest hole
UAF undergraduate Leanne Bulger discovered a persistent hole in a Fairbanks forest emitting unusually high CO₂ levels—likely due to thawing permafrost microbes—and led a team using probes, gas analyzers, and radar to study its depth and gas flux.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Signs of drought in B.C.'s latest snow, water supply bulletin
British Columbia’s March snowpack averaged just 79 percent of normal, up from 63 percent a year ago but still low enough to raise the province’s drought risk for spring and summer.
British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Polar bears on Svalbard tend to leave dens earlier
The study, conducted by Canadian and Norwegian scientists, highlights that in the last decade, polar bears have on average started leaving their dens with cubs one week earlier than was recorded before 2016.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Polar bears on Svalbard tend to leave dens earlier
A new study by Canadian and Norwegian researchers shows that polar bear mothers in Svalbard are leaving dens with their cubs about one week earlier than before 2016, a shift potentially linked to climate change.
Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway
The Barents Observer

Snow's Absence and Welcome Presence
A recent report highlights the unprecedented low snowfall during the 2024-2025 winter in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, affecting not only the weather but also events like the Iditarod race.
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Finland sees exceptionally warm April
April was 1–2 °C warmer than the 1991–2020 average in Finland, with a high of 22.9 °C in Rauma and a low of –23.8 °C in Kilpisjärvi. Sunshine was above average, while southern areas and Lapland saw increased rainfall.
Finland
Yle News

Icebreaker operator: 'We are seeing a more complicated situation with sea ice'
Russian captains face ongoing challenges navigating the Northern Sea Route as deteriorating Arctic ice conditions persist over the next 25 years. Arctic winds have pushed multi-year ice toward the North Siberian coast, concentrating thick ice in the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas and forcing ships to change their routes.
Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia
The Barents Observer

They need to listen: Salmon advocates react to low hatchery numbers
Salmon advocates have raised concerns over declining salmon numbers, blaming an oversupply of hatchery-reared fish that overwhelms natural stocks and disrupts ocean ecosystems.
KTUU

The science behind Alaska's gravity defying snow
This article explains how Interior Alaska’s cold, airy snow uniquely bends off railings and loops from power lines, defying gravity due to slow deformation and the sintering process.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

More Earthquakes in West & Northeast Iceland
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.
Öxarfjörður, Northeast Iceland, Iceland
Iceland Review

Anchorage School District Releases Mount Spurr Eruption Plan
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.
KTUU

Sea ice reaches this year's maximum extent and it's the lowest on record
Spring in the Arctic sees the lowest maximum sea ice extent on record in a 47‐year satellite observation history, according to NSIDC data.
Barents Sea, Kirkenes, Norway

Months after fish died near an Alaska mine, its owner and state regulators still don't know what killed them.
An investigation into the death of roughly 100 fish near Alaska’s Kensington gold mine remains inconclusive months later, with both state regulators and Coeur Mining unable to pinpoint the cause despite extensive testing.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Glaciers in Europe have retreated by Kilometers
Researchers warn that European glaciers are retreating rapidly, exemplified by significant losses in Norwegian glaciers, potentially jeopardizing water supplies, agriculture, and energy. The article highlights the urgency of glacier conservation on World Glacier Day 2025.
Tromsø, Troms og Finnmark, Norway

Ketchikan Responds to Landslide that Displaced Hundreds
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.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Permafrost thaw-related infrastructure damage costs in Alaska are projected to double under medium and high emission scenarios
A new study using advanced mapping techniques reveals that infrastructure damage costs in Alaska due to permafrost thaw could be significantly higher than previously estimated, potentially reaching $37B to $51B under medium and high emission scenarios.
Alaska, United States

Glacier meltdown risks food and water supply of 2bn people, says UN
A Unesco report warns that unprecedented glacier melt driven by the climate crisis threatens the food and water supply for two billion people worldwide, with major impacts on irrigated agriculture and mountain communities.
Global
The Irish Times

Anchorage volcano activation plan rises to 'level 2' of 5
Anchorage has upgraded its emergency response to level two due to potential eruption risks from Mount Spurr, located 75 miles west of the city.

2024 Ranked Warmest Year on Record in 175 Years, Says WMO Report
A new report by the World Meteorological Organization declares 2024 as the warmest year in 175 years, driven by human-caused CO2 emissions. The unprecedented warmth is raising sea levels faster and endangering millions along coastlines, especially in Arctic regions like Svalbard.
Svalbard, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

This is why Canada has plenty of eggs and the U.S. doesn't
While the U.S. grapples with an egg shortage caused by avian flu, eggs remain plentiful and affordable in Canada. There are reasons for that, including that egg farms there tend to be smaller.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NPR

Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
In Maine, Wabanaki tribes, scientists, and conservation groups are banding together to preserve native seeds, particularly those of the culturally significant brown ash, as a defense against the invasive emerald ash borer.
Brunswick, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Severe Storm Highlights Need for Stronger Sea Defences
A powerful storm in southwest Iceland caused extensive coastal damage and raised concerns over the adequacy of existing sea defences, prompting calls for a significant increase in funding for future protection.
Sandgerði, Reykjanes, Iceland
Iceland Review

US egg shortage won't be solved by Finland
"The amount we could export would not solve their egg shortage," says the head of the Finnish Poultry Association.
United States
News

Biologists Focus on Disease and Nutrition to Understand Ailing Mulchatna Caribou Herd
Researchers in southwestern Alaska are investigating why the once-thriving Mulchatna caribou herd has not rebounded, focusing on factors such as disease and nutrition. The study employs real-time monitoring of pregnant caribou and detailed fat measurements to evaluate calf survival and overall herd health.
Western Alaska, United States

Arctic Finland sees unseasonably mild winter this February
Finland’s Arctic Lapland experienced an unseasonably mild February with average temperatures about 7°C higher than normal, while snowfall and precipitation remained below average.
Nellim, Lapland, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

17th century graves on Svalbard are threatened by rising temperatures
New research reveals that climate change is causing the collapse of 17th and 18th century graves in Svalbard, exposing skeletal remains and textiles to the harsh elements. Rising temperatures and changing permafrost conditions are accelerating erosion and degradation of these culturally significant sites.
Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway

The Mulchatna caribou herd’s population remains low as biologists investigate the cause
Researchers in southwestern Alaska are closely monitoring the Mulchatna caribou herd using advanced technology to determine whether disease or nutrition is behind the herd’s failure to recover. The study comes amid efforts to understand a dramatic population decline that has led to a subsistence hunting closure.
Southwestern Alaska, Alaska, United States
KDLG

17th century graves on Svalbard are threatened by rising temperatures
Rising Arctic temperatures are causing centuries-old graves on Svalbard to deteriorate, with collapsing coffins exposing skeletal remains to the elements.
Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway

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

Sea ice is disappearing in the North. This is how Inuit are responding
Shrinking sea ice along northern Labrador is forcing Inuit communities to adapt by blending traditional knowledge with modern technology to address the climate crisis.
Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada
CBC Radio

Washington hunter charged with illegal mountain lion kill on Wrangell Island
The mountain lion was the first reported sighting of the species in Southeast Alaska since 1998.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

‘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.

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

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

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

This winter is one of the mildest on record for Bethel and the Y-K Delta
Bethel and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta experienced one of the mildest winters on record, with Bethel marking its sixth warmest winter in 101 years amid unusually low snowpack.
Bethel, 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.

Snowpack above average in Klondike: Yukon government
A Yukon government survey reveals significantly above average snowpack levels in parts of the territory, particularly in the Klondike region, signaling a potential for increased flood risk.
Klondike, Yukon Territory, Canada
Yukon 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
New research indicates that the increasing penetration of warm Atlantic waters is accelerating sea ice loss in the Siberian Arctic, with significant implications for the region’s ecosystem and climate.
Siberian Arctic, Russia

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

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.

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 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

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

Communities in Southeast Alaska are mapping their landslide risk. It's complicated.
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.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Thousands of pounds of fish are distributed in Kotzebue following a dismal salmon season
In Kotzebue, residents queued in freezing conditions to receive 5-pound bags of sockeye salmon distributed by Maniilaq Association in collaboration with SeaShare, following a dismal commercial salmon season.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Snow lovers welcome the return of an old fashioned Maine winter
A series of heavy snowfall events and enduring sub-freezing temperatures have brought back the charm of a traditional Maine winter, delighting snow sports enthusiasts and winter festival organizers.
Portland, Maine, United States
Press Herald

The Threat Within an Alaska Mountain
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.
Mount Churchill, Alaska, United States

Arctic ice shift: Melting multiyear floes trigger decline in vital pressure ridges
A study by the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that the dramatic melting of older, multiyear sea ice is leading to a significant decline in the frequency and size of vital pressure ridges in the Arctic.
Arctic Ocean, Arctic, International

Microplastics are in the fetal tissues of Alaska spotted seals, new research finds
A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers found that microplastics are transferred from mother Alaska spotted seals to their fetuses, with widespread contamination detected in various tissues.
Alaska Beacon

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

Subsistence-style Dog Mushing is Fading: How Alaska's Salmon Crisis is Changing the Sport
The article explains how a severe decline in wild salmon, driven by climate change, is forcing Alaska mushers to abandon traditional subsistence feeding practices in favor of costly commercial dog food. This shift is altering both the practice and culture of dog mushing in the region.

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.

FMI: Finland warmed by 1.4°C in first quarter of century
The Finnish Meteorological Institute reports that Finland’s average temperature in the first quarter of the 21st century was 1.4°C higher than during 1975–1999, with January in the south and central regions being unusually mild.
Kristinestad, Ostrobothnia, Finland

Fish Death at Power Plants – Lack of Fish Passages is the Cause
A new study in Sweden finds that most of the approximately 1,600 power plant facilities lack fish passages, which sometimes leads to fish fatalities.
Nationwide, Sweden, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

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

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.

Damages in Jasper wildfire rise to $1.2B, goal to clear rubble for May construction
The Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that the 2024 Jasper wildfire caused $1.2 billion in damages, making it the second costliest fire disaster in Canada.
Jasper, Alberta, Canada
CTVNews

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

Russia Sees Rapid 3°C Winter Temperature Increase Over Past 50 Years
Winter temperatures in Russia have risen by an average of 3°C over the past 50 years, with Moscow recording a remarkable 3.5°C that broke a century-old record.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

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

Invasive freshwater fish able to swim through Alaska’s Cook Inlet, study proves
Invasive northern pike, traditionally freshwater fish, have been found swimming through Alaska's Cook Inlet, marking the first documented North American case of such behavior, according to a new study.
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Alaska Beacon

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

Caribou herds in Arctic Alaska trend in opposite directions
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.
Arctic Alaska, United States

Researchers uncover new information about white patch in northern lights
University of Calgary researchers have identified a 'structured continuum emission' or white patch within the northern lights as a heat source, further complicating the understanding of auroras.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Anchorage skiers and snowboarders are struggling through a poor snow season, but opportunities exist for the adventurous
“It’s out of the ordinary but nothing that’s unprecedented,” according to Arctic Valley Ski Area general manager John Robinson-Wilson.

PFAS contamination found on more than 100 Maine farms
Maine's investigation into PFAS contamination from sludge-based fertilizer has discovered the chemicals on over 100 farms, posing potential health risks.
Maine, United States
Press Herald

Federal disaster declaration approved for Northwest Alaska flooding
President Biden has approved federal disaster assistance for Northwestern Alaska regions affected by severe flooding and storms in October 2024.
Northwest Alaska, United States
Alaska's News Source

Kuskokwim 300 delayed 2 weeks due to low snow and warm temperatures
The Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race has been postponed by two weeks due to low snowfall and above-freezing temperatures in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Urgent need for better monitoring of sinking ground across the Arctic says study
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.

Urgent need for better monitoring of sinking ground across the Arctic says study
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
Черский, Нижнеколымский район, Sakha, Russia

Cumulative effects of fuel spills in Nunavut and N.W.T. not being well tracked, experts say
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.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

80 mph, 90 mph and higher: Here's a rundown of peak gusts recorded across Southcentral Alaska in Sunday's storm
A storm in Southcentral Alaska recorded peak wind gusts reaching up to 110 mph, causing power outages in Anchorage and the Mat-Su area.
Southcentral Alaska, Alaska, United States

Wind and rain batter Anchorage and Mat-Su, leaving power outages across the region
A severe storm hit Anchorage and Mat-Su, causing power outages for thousands due to high winds and rain. Gusts exceeded 100 mph in higher elevations, with significant impacts across the region.

Part of pedestrian bridge collapses onto Seward Highway in South Anchorage
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.

Roof ripped off Anchorage home amid intense wind gusts
A severe windstorm with gusts nearing 75 mph tore off the roof of a home in Anchorage, Alaska, captured on security footage.
Alaska's News Source

Anchorage power outages extend to fourth day in wake of 'extreme' warm January storm
An unusually warm January storm with record warmth and hurricane-force winds left Anchorage residents facing extended power outages for four days.

Thousands in Southcentral Alaska remain without power after Sunday's wind and rain storm
A powerful wind and rain storm in Southcentral Alaska caused widespread power outages and closures, affecting thousands in the Anchorage area.

According to the new master plan for the location of electric power facilities in the Arctic until 2042
On January 9, an order was published on the website of the Russian government on the approval of the master plan for the placement of electric power facilities
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Rising frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves threaten Arctic ecosystems
Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in the Arctic, posing a threat to its fragile ecosystems, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.
Arctic Ocean

Since November, a warm weather pattern has dominated winter in Anchorage
Despite the fourth snowiest October on record, roughly half of precipitation in Anchorage has been rain this winter.

Lapland shivers while south warms in a January of extremes for Finland
January in Finland showcased extreme contrasts with Lapland recording frigid temperatures, including a low of -38.9°C, while southern regions experienced unseasonably mild conditions with a peak of 9.5°C driven by föhn winds.
Savukoski, Lapland, Finland

Unalaskans help document largest single-species wildlife die-off ever recorded
Unalaskans documented the largest single-species wildlife die-off ever recorded, with four million common murres starving due to a marine heatwave, while also noting a sharp decline in the local raven population, possibly linked to climate change and avian flu.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Where's the snow? Climate specialist weighs in
Alaska is experiencing an unusually low snowfall this winter, discussed by Rick Thoman, an Alaska Climate Specialist, who highlights broader climate trends such as warming and increased precipitation.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Thousands are without power due to winter storm hitting Newfoundland and Labrador
A severe winter storm battered Newfoundland and Labrador, leaving thousands without power and causing significant damage along the coastline.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CTV News

Snowy owls are coming to Maine. Here's how to see them in the most ethical way
Snowy owls are migrating to Maine this winter due to an abundance of food in their Arctic breeding grounds. Observers are advised on ethical viewing practices to avoid disturbing these birds.
Maine, United States

Board of Fish to hear proposals to start commercial fishery for magister squid in Southeast Alaska
Proposals have been submitted to the Alaska Board of Fisheries to establish a commercial jig fishery for magister squid in Southeast Alaska, potentially benefiting local fishermen and affecting marine ecosystems.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Following August flood, Kipnuk becomes second Alaska tribe to ever receive federal disaster declaration
The Native Village of Kipnuk received a federal disaster declaration following severe flooding in August 2024, becoming the second Alaska tribe to receive such recognition.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States

Inland caribou herds aren’t recovering, report says
The 2024 Arctic Report Card highlights the unusual shift of the Arctic tundra from a carbon sink to a carbon source and reports significant declines in large migratory caribou herds, attributed to climate change impacts like increased winter precipitation and warmer summers.

2024 was exceptionally warm in Finland
The Finnish Meteorological Institute reported that 2024 was an exceptionally warm year in Finland, with the average temperature notably above normal, particularly in Northern Lapland.
Finland

Dismal December snowfall caps a wetter-than-normal year for Alaska
Despite a dry December, Alaska experienced an unusually wet year, with higher-than-normal precipitation mainly occurring in the summer months, according to climatologist Brian Brettschneider.

Neste not behind white clumps washed up on Hanko's shoreline, probe finds
A Finnish Border Guard probe ruled out Neste as the source of white clumps that washed up on Hanko’s beaches, suggesting they may have come from a ship that used a Russian port.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland

2024 was exceptionally warm in Finland
In 2024, Finland experienced an unusually warm year with an average temperature of 4.0°C, 1.1°C above the long-term average. Northern Lapland saw the highest deviations at 1.7°C above the average.
Finland

New conservation program on Alaska’s North Slope to offset Willow drilling impact
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.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

With walls, berms and raised roads, Fort McMurray is working to keep its river from overflowing
Fort McMurray, vulnerable to ice jam floods, is enhancing its infrastructure with walls, berms, and raised roads to prevent future flooding, following a significant incident in 2020.
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada

B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation
The B.C. Wildlife Federation is constructing 100 artificial beaver dams by 2025 to encourage beaver population growth and restore wetland ecosystems.
British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Orcas moved into the Arctic. It could be bad news for other whales, and humans too
Orcas have begun to inhabit Arctic waters due to melting sea ice, posing threats to local whale species and potentially affecting Indigenous communities reliant on these ecosystems.
Eastern Arctic, Canada
NNSL Media

2024 rewind: Hurricane Helene
In the early hours of Friday, Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene swept through the Upstate. Seven people were killed by the storm in Greenville County, among nearly 50 in South Carolina. Helene was the deadliest hurricane in state history.
Greenville, North Carolina, United States
GREENVILLE JOURNAL

Annual meeting highlights positive trends for Western Arctic Caribou Herd though there is no population count this year
Despite the inability to conduct a population count this year due to weather conditions, recent data indicates slightly improved survival rates for cows and calves in the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, offering a glimmer of hope amid ongoing concerns about the herd's decline.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska

Nornickel launches air quality monitoring system in Norilsk
Norilsk Nickel has deployed 16 automatic monitoring stations across Greater Norilsk to measure SO₂, H₂S, CO, NO₂, particulate matter, temperature, pressure and humidity, providing real-time air quality data every 20 minutes via the city’s website.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Taymyr Telegraph

Kenai extends agreements for spruce tree mitigation
Kenai has extended agreements with state authorities to continue its spruce tree mitigation efforts, addressing trees affected by spruce beetles.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Christmas Bird Count spots more than 8,000 birds
The 2024 Christmas Bird Count in Homer, Alaska, recorded over 8,000 birds across 64 species, despite challenging weather conditions.
Homer, Alaska, United States

Land Uplift Continues at Steady Rate
Land uplift in Svartsengi continues at a steady rate, linked to ongoing magma accumulation, with increased volcanic activity expected.
Svartsengi, Iceland
Vísir

"Chimney-Free Zone" to Be Established in Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia's Cabinet has decided to implement a "Chimney-Free Zone" in Ulaanbaatar to improve air quality by banning solid fuel and promoting gas heating, alongside providing green loans and subsidies.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Alaska birds suffered biggest die-off in recorded history in ‘Blob’ heat wave, new study says
The 4 million deaths of common murres during the intense marine heatwave was the biggest wildlife toll in modern history, the study says
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Alaska Beacon

Researcher Calls for Hunting Ban on Fulmar, Kittiwake, and Skua
Researcher Sjúrður Hammer advocates for an immediate hunting ban on fulmars, kittiwakes, and skuas in the Faroe Islands to prevent possible extinction of these seabirds due to significant population declines.
Faroe Islands
Dimma

Arctic tundra now emitting more carbon gases than it absorbs, annual report says
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.
Arctic, Alaska, United States

'Left to Fend for Themselves': Volunteers Step Up as Russian Government Falters in Black Sea Oil Spill Response
A major oil spill along Russia's Black Sea coast has mobilized volunteers as official response falters after two oil tankers were damaged during a storm.
Black Sea Coast, Krasnodar, Russia
The Moscow Times

Alaska birds suffered biggest die-off in recorded history in 'Blob' heat wave, new study says
A study revealed that 4 million common murres died during the North Pacific marine heatwave known as the 'Blob,' marking the biggest bird die-off in recorded history.
Juneau Empire

B.C. woman killed during Saturday windstorm
A 65-year-old woman in South Surrey was tragically killed by a falling tree during a severe windstorm.
South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

EPA declares Upper Columbia River a Superfund site
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.
Columbia River, Washington, United States
Spokesman.com

About permafrost: scientists have identified periods of warming and thawing of permafrost, and found that the destruction of lichens by fires contributes to its melting
Scientists have identified warming periods and permafrost thawing, noting that lichen destruction by fires accelerates melting, with significant temperature increases observed from 2005 to 2023.
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia

Storm in Nuuk: Construction Crane Collapsed
In Nuuk, a large construction crane has collapsed due to a storm, with no reported injuries.
Nuuk, Greenland
Sermitsiaq

Thawing permafrost threatens runways in the North
A new Senate report highlights that thawing permafrost is destabilizing northern runways in Canada, posing a threat to aviation safety as climate change impacts critical infrastructure.
Nunavut, Canada

Arctic tundra now emitting more carbon gases than it absorbs, annual report says
A NOAA report reveals that Arctic tundra regions, including those in Alaska, have transitioned from carbon sinks to carbon sources due to warming permafrost and intensifying wildfires, exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
Arctic, Alaska, United States

Arctic shipping season shrinking despite reduced ice coverage, conference hears
Despite reduced overall ice coverage in Canada's Northwest Passage, the Arctic shipping season is shortening due to increased mobility and breakage of sea ice creating navigational hazards.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Arctic tundra is now a net source of carbon dioxide
The Arctic tundra, which has been a carbon sink for millennia, has shifted to become a carbon source.
Circumpolar Arctic
NOAA Climate.gov

Deer are cute, but their over-abundance is bad news for B.C. forests, birds. Here's why.
Deer populations in southwestern British Columbia have expanded beyond historical levels, causing significant harm to forest plants and bird species. This article explores the impacts and possible solutions to manage deer populations and restore ecological balance.
Southwestern British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Fish Camp in Alaska — Without the Fish
In Ruby, Alaska, Indigenous families face cultural and nutritional challenges as climate change and fisheries management impact the availability of chinook and chum salmon, central to their traditions.
Ruby, Alaska, United States

Jasper wildfire, flooding, hail among top weather events of 2024
Environment Canada identified key weather events in 2024, including the devastating Jasper wildfire and significant storms leading to floods and hail damage. These events resulted in mass evacuations and substantial economic losses across Canada.
Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Anchorage picks up the pieces after Monday night wind storm
A severe windstorm in Anchorage on Monday night caused widespread damage, including downed trees and power outages, as residents began cleanup efforts the following day.
Alaska's News Source

Kodiak-area communities' workshop troubleshoots coastal erosion
A recent workshop in Kodiak connected some rural communities to resources that could help them adapt to erosion and other issues.
Akhiok, Alaska, United States

Alaska’s climate and environment continue to change, including in some ‘astounding’ ways
Alaska is experiencing rapid environmental changes, including record-high temperatures, shrinking sea ice, increased wildfires, and unusual wildlife patterns, such as the decline of salmon and the rise of snow goose populations.

Small fish size linked to poorer runs of Chinook in Alaska's biggest rivers
A study identifies shrinking salmon size as a factor affecting Chinook salmon productivity in Alaska's Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, impacted by conditions like extreme temperatures and high runoff.
Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, Alaska, United States

Halibut catch, sizes below normal again as Gulf fishery closes
The 2024 Pacific halibut fishing season has ended with below-average catches and fish sizes across Alaska's fisheries. The decreasing size of halibut poses a threat to their population, as smaller females produce significantly fewer eggs, raising concerns for future stock sustainability.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Bristol Bay's sockeye run surpasses forecast, but fishermen face low prices
The Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run exceeded forecasts in 2024, but fishermen earned lower-than-expected profits due to smaller fish sizes and poor market conditions.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in Alaska, and other climate report takeaways
In Southeast Alaska, the changing climate means more deadly landslides, and in Anchorage, more heavy-snowfall events, according to Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy’s report.

When the ice bites back: Methane holes and survival in rural Alaska
Methane holes have become a hazard in rural Alaska, with increased frequency possibly linked to the 2002 Denali Fault earthquake. These holes form under ice due to methane gas bubbles and can pose significant dangers to locals and their animals.
Lake Minchumina, Alaska, United States

Record Temperatures Mark Warm November
November in Iceland saw unprecedented warmth breaking temperature records, followed by a sharp cold spell, highlighting stark climatic shifts.
Iceland
Iceland Review

City council extends Spit emergency declaration
The Homer City Council has extended the local emergency declaration for Homer Spit, originally issued after significant storm surge damage, and is seeking further state and federal disaster assistance.
Homer News

Landslides to late freezes: New report makes sense of changes to Alaska's environment
A newly updated report titled 'Alaska's Changing Environment' explores the climatic shifts affecting Alaska, from landslides to late freezes, emphasizing the significant impact of climate change.

UAF study finds link between king salmon decline and climate change
A University of Alaska Fairbanks study links king salmon decline in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers to climate change impacts such as warming temperatures, which decrease salmon body size and breeding efficiency.

New report highlights increased polar bear presence and challenging travel in Northwest Alaska as the Arctic warms up
A new report reveals a rise in polar bears on land and dangerous travel conditions in Northwest Alaska due to climate change.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

New report highlights increased polar bear presence and challenging travel in Northwest Alaska as the Arctic warms up
The report reveals an unusual increase in polar bear presence on land in Northwest Alaska due to declining sea ice, posing challenges for human-bear interactions and travel safety, while warming temperatures and shifting seasons complicate traditional travel and hunting practices.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska

Carbon capture tested in Västerås: "A key for tackling the climate challenge"
Mälarenergi in Västerås, Sweden, is testing carbon capture technology to reduce emissions from its waste-to-energy plant. This initiative could significantly decrease CO2 emissions, key for addressing climate challenges.
Västerås, Västmanland, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Balsam fir trees 'at risk' in New Brunswick amid a changing climate
Research from the University of New Brunswick indicates that balsam fir trees are at risk due to climate change, with rising temperatures and drought conditions being key concerns.
New Brunswick, Canada

Empty survival suits found but no signs of life after fishing boat overturns in Alaska storm
A fishing vessel capsized in the Gulf of Alaska during a storm, leaving seven empty survival suits but no sign of the five-member crew.
Gulf of Alaska, Alaska, United States

FMI: Autumn was unusually mild
This autumn was unusually warm across Finland, with the Finnish Meteorological Institute noting it was the fourth mildest in history.

Ki-Chul Oh: Nowhere In the World Has the Average Air Temperature Increased by More Than Two Degrees Celsius Except in Mongolia
Ki-Chul Oh discusses the severe climate change impacts in Mongolia, where the average air temperature has risen by two degrees Celsius, significantly above global averages. He highlights the efforts of the Green Asia Network in combating desertification and promoting sustainable land management in the region.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Nearly half of Nunavut has been told to boil their water this year
Eleven out of twenty-five communities in Nunavut have received boil water advisories in 2024 due to infrastructure and water quality issues, with efforts underway to upgrade aging systems.
Nunavut, Canada

Snowless Finns suffer 'eco-grief'
Finns are experiencing 'eco-grief' due to a lack of snow, which holds cultural significance for many. This emotional state arises from noticeable environmental changes and concerns for future generations.

Study suggests dust is a hidden player in the Arctic's changing climate
A recent study indicates that dust plays a significant role in the Arctic's climate changes, affecting how clouds form and their impact on the region's climate dynamics.
Arctic

Officials monitoring avian flu in mammals in the Canadian Arctic
More reports are emerging around the world of the virus in mammals, including species found in the Arctic. Officials say there's no evidence suggesting transmission from eating infected animals which are cooked - but country food is often eaten raw.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Alaska's total commercial salmon harvest this year was ultra-low in both quantity and value
Alaska's commercial salmon harvest in 2024 hit the third lowest recorded since 1985 both in fish quantity and financial returns.
Juneau Empire

Sea-ice caused trouble for Russian warships
Russian warships from the Northern Fleet faced significant challenges from sea ice while navigating the Northern Sea Route, despite Russia's development of naval icebreakers.
Northern Sea Route, Arctic Ocean, Russia

Spawning salmon return to urban Vancouver streams, inspire conservation
Rehabilitation efforts have successfully brought spawning salmon back to urban streams in Metro Vancouver, highlighting the importance of conservation and community stewardship.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Yukon News

Tea growers pressured by extreme heat and downpours: “Need to be supported”
Tea production in India is declining due to climate change, with demands for $1 trillion in climate aid from developed countries to help adapt.
Assam, India

As hundreds flock to see dead Anchorage whale, scientists are trying to learn more about how it lived
A dead fin whale washed up near downtown Anchorage, attracting hundreds of onlookers while scientists study it to learn more about the whale's life and death.

Cold wave from Finland and Siberia affects Norway – now it gets cold
A cold wave from Siberia and Finland is bringing frigid temperatures to Norway, with conditions falling to minus 25 degrees Celsius in some parts.
Innlandet, Norway

Historically bad year for dolphin strandings on Cape Cod has scientists looking for answers
Cape Cod experiences a historic rise in dolphin strandings, with warming waters affecting food availability, prompting scientists to seek solutions.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States

New bird flu virus spreads to Alaskan wildlife, state vet says
The H5N1 bird flu virus has recently been detected in Alaskan wildlife, primarily affecting species like geese, ducks, and eagles. No human cases have been reported, but it poses a significant risk to domestic poultry flocks.

November 21: Rick Thoman's Climate Highlight for Western Alaska
In November and December, Western Alaska experiences rapid weather changes due to large-scale atmospheric conditions, with winds causing sudden temperature rises, especially when moving inland from the sea or down from mountains.
Western Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Lowest commercial harvest on record highlighted in 2024 preliminary figures
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game's preliminary report for 2024 shows a record low in Norton Sound's commercial fishery, with an exvessel value of $146,326 from a salmon harvest of 21,490. Statewide salmon harvests declined by 56% from the previous year.
Norton Sound, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Urban salmon return to Metro Vancouver streams to spawn and inspire recovery efforts
Efforts to restore urban waterways have led to spawning salmon returning to Metro Vancouver streams, highlighting the success of rehabilitation projects amidst industrial and residential areas.
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

It's a virus you may not have heard of. Here's why scientists are worried about it
Case counts for Oropouche virus are still low but rising dramatically. What's going on? And then there's a study that raises the possibility that insect bites aren't the only way the virus can spread.
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
NPR

Dire condition of Alaska's seafood industry has many causes and no easy fixes, experts say
Alaska's seafood industry is facing significant challenges due to climate change, geopolitical factors, and economic pressures. Efforts to address these issues are underway, but solutions are complex and require substantial investment and policy change.

'Bomb cyclone' kills 2 and knocks out power to over half a million homes across the northwest U.S.
A powerful "bomb cyclone" swept across the northwest United States, leading to the deaths of two people, widespread power outages, and significant damage from fallen trees and extreme weather conditions.
Northwest United States

Thousands of exploded craters discovered on the Kara seabed
Russian researchers have identified thousands of craters on the Kara Sea bed due to explosive methane gas releases, posing potential risks to underwater gas pipelines.
Kara Sea, Siberia, Russia

Wolf population on the rise in northern Norway
The wolf population in northern Norway, particularly in Finnmark, is rising, with DNA tests indicating their origins in Russia, a development complicated by halted scientific exchanges between Norway and Russia due to geopolitical tensions.
Finnmark, Norway

The hard choices facing B.C. farmers after record crop losses due to 'weather whiplash'
A sudden cold snap devastated peach and wine grape crops in B.C., compounding economic challenges faced by apple-growers, leading farmers to diversify or sell their land.
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Massive holes and thin ice widespread on Kuskokwim, annual aerial survey finds
An aerial survey of the Kuskokwim River reveals widespread thin ice and large open holes, raising safety concerns for nearby communities.
Kuskokwim River, Alaska, United States

First right whales of season gorge on critical food off Massachusetts, giving hope for a strong year
Scientists observed North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay with abundant food, offering hope for a strong feeding and breeding season.
Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, United States

City, DOT work to repair storm damage to Spit road
A storm caused significant erosion damage to Homer Spit Road, reducing it to one lane. Repair efforts are underway to restore the road and impacted businesses.

The frozen carbon of the northern permafrost is on the move – we estimated by how much
Thawing permafrost in the Arctic region is releasing significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen, posing environmental challenges due to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Arctic, Russia

Survey monitors animal carcasses for harmful algal bloom toxins and bird flu
Charles Menadelook conducted carcass surveys in the Norton Sound Region to monitor harmful algal blooms and bird flu, aiming to protect subsistence hunters by identifying threats to regional food resources.
The Nome Nugget

Many Halifax lakes are too salty. That's a problem for the fish and plants that live in them
New data reveals high salinity levels in several Halifax lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life. Halifax considers new measures to manage salt runoff.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Biden administration gives support to controversial land trade in Alaska wildlife refuge
The Biden administration supports a land trade in an Alaskan wildlife refuge, exchanging 490 acres for 31,198 acres, despite controversy and opposition from some tribal communities.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Yukon gov't again reports emissions down per resident, while total emissions continue to climb
Yukon's per capita emissions have decreased, but overall emissions are rising due to population and economic growth, challenging the territory's ambitious 45% reduction goal.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

A dog on Prince of Wales Island is helping to conserve wolves by tracking their poop
A trained Australian Shepherd named Barley is aiding conservation efforts by locating wolf scat on Prince of Wales Island, providing crucial data for wildlife management.
Craig, Alaska, United States

Chukchi Sea polar bears are increasingly exposed to disease-causing pathogens
Chukchi Sea polar bears show increased exposure to pathogens like canine distemper virus and Toxoplasma gondii, potentially due to changes in their diet and extended time on land.
Chukchi Sea

Here's what the Trump presidency could mean for the Porcupine caribou herd
The Gwich'in are mobilizing to protect the Porcupine caribou herd's calving grounds from potential oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as promised by President-elect Trump.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Commercial whaling and climate change are inhibiting evolutionary change in Arctic whales
Commercial whaling and climate change are inhibiting the evolutionary potential of Arctic whales by reducing genetic variation necessary for adaptation, with bowhead whales markedly affected by historical hunting.
Arctic Region
NNSL Media

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

Veterinary Authority Warns Against Handling Sick or Dead Birds
Iceland's Food and Veterinary Authority has advised the public not to handle sick or dead birds due to an avian flu case (H5N5) in a seagull.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Weeks after storm damaged over 50 Kotzebue properties, local responders carry on with repairs
In Kotzebue, Alaska, local responders continue to repair over 50 properties severely damaged by a storm in October, focusing on essential infrastructure before winter begins.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

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.

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.

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

In the Northwest Arctic, damaging late-season storms could also be delaying sea ice formation
Kotzebue Sound is freezing 45 days later than historical averages, with climatologists attributing the delay to more intense fall storms linked to climate change.

Helicopter rescue, washed-out roads: After flooding displaces 80 people, Kotzebue begins recovery
A severe storm in Kotzebue, Alaska, caused significant flooding, displacing 80 people and damaging critical infrastructure, including roads and the airport.

Elevated contaminants detected at Wolverine Mine: Yukon government
Contaminants including zinc and cadmium were found in water samples from the Wolverine Mine, exceeding federal guidelines, though tests showed no acute toxicity.
Wolverine, Yukon, Canada
NNSL Media

North Atlantic right whales should live past 100 years old. They're dying around 22
North Atlantic right whales, which should naturally live over 100 years, are currently dying at an average age of 22 due to vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and climate change. This highlights the severe threats faced by the critically endangered species.
Nova Scotia, Canada

'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

Northern lights go south: Effect might last several more years, expert says
The aurora borealis has been visible in southern Canada due to peak solar activity, a phenomenon that might continue for several more years.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

More sea water sampling after testing finds high hydrocarbon levels around HMNZS Manawanui
The Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of Samoa, leading to elevated hydrocarbon levels in the surrounding seawater. Further sampling is planned to assess environmental impact.
Upolu, Samoa
NZ Herald

Zone for eastern Hudson Bay beluga protection shrinks, Inukjuak now outside it
The boundary for the beluga protection zone in eastern Hudson Bay has been reduced, placing Inukjuak outside the protected area, allowing unlimited beluga harvesting near the community.
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada

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.
News

US Fish and Wildlife Service takes action to combat the spread of invasive species in Bristol Bay
The South-central Invasive Species Strike Team is actively working in Bristol Bay to manage and control the spread of invasive species, such as Bird Vetch, which threaten local ecosystems essential for subsistence in Alaska.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States

Floods in Spain impact Icelandic Christmas tradition
Flooding in Valencia, Spain, has significantly decreased the supply of clementines to Iceland for Christmas, as only a quarter of the usual volume is expected this year.
Valencia, Spain
Vísir

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.
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

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.

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.

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

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

Artists Visit Austertana - The Village Where Mining, Ecology and Reindeer Herding Clash
Danish media artists have returned to the northeastern Norwegian village of Austertana to document the profound impact of the quartzite quarry Elkem Tana on local reindeer herding and the environment.
Austertana, Tana, Norway

Setting nets for 70 years in Anchorage’s shadow, a family witnessed major shifts in Cook Inlet salmon
A family with a 70-year history of setting nets in Cook Inlet has observed significant changes in salmon size and population, with a notable decrease in average earnings for fishermen.

Juneau glacier flooding leaves residents looking for long-term solutions
Floodwaters from the Mendenhall River rushed under Sam and Amanda Hatch’s home last August at then record-levels. After the water receded, their house sank several inches into the saturated soil, shifting its foundations. As they rebuilt, the Hatch family decided to elevate their house by four feet on piers to avoid flooding in the future. Scraping together deals and favors, Sam Hatch said the whole process cost around $135,000. It was completed a month ago, he said.

EPA says Red Dog Mine failed to identify hazardous waste for over 4 years
The EPA settled with Red Dog Mine for failing to identify hazardous waste for over four years, marking the mine's largest violation in its 30-year operation.
Red Dog Mine, Alaska

Bird flu cases are going undetected, new study suggests. It’s a problem for all of us
As bird flu cases go underreported, health officials risk being slow to notice if the virus were to become more contagious. A large surge of infections outside of farmworker communities would trigger the government’s flu surveillance system, but by then it might be too late to contain.
Texas, United States

NOAA selects Alaska projects for funding from its climate-resilience program
Federal officials have recommended that Alaska get $78.9 million for projects to make coastal communities better prepared to address climate change.

As the Great Salt Lake dries up, it's also emitting millions of tons of CO2
A new study found that the drying Great Salt Lake in Utah is now a major source of the gas emissions that are causing the climate to warm.
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Bristol Bay sees smallest sockeye sizes on record, despite large run
Sockeye salmon returning to Bristol Bay this year were, on average, the smallest the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has ever seen. So far, the average weight of Bristol Bay sockeye was 4.2 pounds this year. Fish and Game biologist Stacy Vega said that’s the smallest average weight on record.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Climate change affecting life in Alaska
Climate change is affecting nearly every aspect of life, said Gwich’in Council International board member Evon Taa’ąįį Peter, who is Neetsaii Gwich’in and Koyukon Athabascan. For one thing, he told ICT, more than 60% of the forest lands of the Alaskan Gwich’in nation have burned in wildfires in the past 10 years. As of July 10, 582,000 acres had burned this year in 328 wildfires in Alaska. “I couldn’t open the windows of my house for seven days straight, I think, because it would just let smoke billow into my home, which was already too unhealthy for us to be outside. So most of us just had to remain indoors…so there’s definitely very real dramatic and in-our-face impacts from climate change across the state, even in (an urban area like) Fairbanks,” Peter said.

Fire numbers fall in B.C. as fire near Golden destroys structures, spurs evacuation
Despite a general decrease in wildfires across B.C., the Dogtooth fire near Golden has destroyed structures and prompted evacuations, contrasting with the province's improving situation.
Golden, British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia

How blue-green algae blooms are threatening the Great Lakes
Blue-green algae blooms, exacerbated by climate change and nutrient runoff, are increasingly appearing in the Great Lakes, posing risks to human and environmental health.
Erie, Michigan, United States

The large ice carries polar bears to South Greenland
Unusually large amounts of sea ice have brought more polar bears from Northeast to South Greenland, with many unable to return due to currents.
Southern Greenland

Bat from Grey-Bruce tests positive for rabies
A bat in Grey-Bruce, Ontario, has tested positive for rabies, marking the first local animal case this year and prompting public health warnings.
Ontario, Canada
London

Seismic activity cause for 'Level of Danger' declaration on Reykjanes Peninsula
According to a new hazard assessment from the Met Office, the risk of a magma flow or eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula has increased and is likely to occur in the next three or four weeks. This time, there is a high risk of eruption in Grindavík.
Reykjanesbær, Southern Peninsula, Iceland
RÚV

German scientists get bird's-eye view of permafrost thaw in Northwest Arctic
German scientists from Alfred Wegener Institute are using classic planes to map and document the accelerating permafrost thaw in Northwest Alaska.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska

Victory no to larger facilities: "Unacceptable risk of infection for wild cod"
Mattilsynet has rejected Ode's request to double the size of their cod farming facility due to unacceptable infection risks to wild cod populations.
Norway

Studies show there are likely more ‘sushi worms’ in Alaska salmon and other fish than there used to be
These worms, present in halibut, cod, salmon and other saltwater fish, are increasing. If the worms are well frozen or cooked, they don’t pose a health threat.

Climate change could be worsening the northern housing crunch
Climate change is affecting all aspects of the northern housing industry, from the structures themselves to the transportation of materials. One way to fix the issue is to put more reliance on northern community-based knowledge..
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Why melting ice sheets are making our days longer
The melting of polar ice sheets due to climate change is causing Earth's rotation to slow down and its axis to shift, potentially surpassing the moon's influence on these dynamics and affecting technologies like GPS.
Earth
Washington Post

She died from a tick-spread illness most Canadians have never heard of. Why more people could be at risk
The article discusses the rise in tick-borne illnesses in Canada, highlighting a case of Powassan virus and the challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to limited awareness among healthcare providers.

Rabies could become a disease of the past. Here's what it would take.
The article discusses the high fatality rate of rabies and its impact on poorer regions, emphasizing the need for accessible vaccinations and refrigeration for prevention.
Earth

CDC's new rules for dogs entering the U.S. will have unique impacts in Alaska
The CDC's new dog entry rules, including a microchip requirement and stricter vaccination protocols, will uniquely affect Alaska, especially for those traveling with dogs under six months or through Canada.

Rare genetic mutation turns green frog blue
A rare genetic mutation has resulted in a blue magnificent tree frog, a normally green species, spotted in Western Australia.
Australia
CTVNews

Dozens of heat-related emergency calls in B.C. as more temperature records fall and wildfire risk rises
British Columbia faces a surge in heat-related emergencies and wildfire risks as temperatures soar, breaking records and prompting heat warnings and a campfire ban.
British Columbia, Canada

New federal program aims to speed restoration of damaged Alaska streams and rivers
A new federal program expedites the repair of Alaska's mining-damaged waterways, incorporating a streamlined environmental assessment process to restore up to 5 miles of habitat annually over 25 years.

The fastest warming of the Russian Arctic was detected in spring
Earlier this year, the spring of 2024 in the Russian North was registered as the warmest in the history of weather observations, the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia reported.
Russian Arctic

City of Port Alberni to ban all outdoor fires amid heat wave
Port Alberni bans all outdoor fires due to a heatwave and high fire risk, with fines for non-compliance until October 31, 2024.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Alberni Valley News

Ban sale of puffin meat, says expert
The long-term decline is believed to be due to the accumulated effects of fishing and unfavourable environmental conditions, such as high sea temperatures, according to the findings of independent experts based on Erpur Snær's data, who has been monitoring puffins for a long time.
Iceland
RÚV

Clean-up in the Russian Arctic
The project to clean the area around Khatanga started in 2023. The participants report that last year volunteers cleaned more than 200 tons of man-made waste along the 3 km of the coastline, the RGS website reports. The waste has been accumulating there since the Soviet times.
Khatanga, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Inside a company’s bid to make Alaska’s next big oil field lower-carbon
With the future of fossil fuels in question, an Australian oil company is branding its new Arctic development as climate-friendly.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

This Italian vacation hotspot is turning tourists away as it runs out of water
Agrigento, a tourist destination in Sicily, is facing severe water shortages, leading to rationing and the turning away of tourists, impacting the local economy reliant on tourism and agriculture.
Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
CTVNews

Extreme heat grips much of Western Canada
Western Canada is experiencing extreme heat, prompting health warnings and wildfire concerns, with measures in place to protect vulnerable populations.
Alberta, Canada

Moscow Region Officials Warn of Invasive Species Due to Hot Weather
The unusually hot summer weather in the Moscow region this year may trigger an increase in populations of invertebrate species, the regional Environmental Ministry said this week.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia

Canadian Coast Guard warns Mackenzie River users of low water levels - Canada.ca
The Canadian Coast Guard is warning mariners to use extreme caution and prioritize safety on the Mackenzie River due to low water levels, specifically between Wrigley Harbour on Great Slave Lake and the entrance of the Aklavik Channel (Mile 952) near Inuvik.
Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada
Canadian Coast Guard

National Park Service bans sport hunters from baiting bears
The National Park Service has banned sport hunters from baiting bears in Alaska's National Park Service-managed Preserves, citing safety and wildlife conservation concerns.

Another new horizon for wood bison in Alaska
After a steep population drop in Western Alaska’s reintroduced wood bison herd, a state biologist sees a plan for a new herd in the Interior as promising. But two tribal groups oppose it.

ADF&G confirms verified expansion of invasive European green crab
ADF&G has confirmed the spread of the invasive European green crab in Alaska, urging increased monitoring and public awareness to mitigate its destructive impact on local ecosystems.

Budworms ravaged Maine's forests for years. They're starting to come back.
An aerial survey revealed 3,000 acres of Maine's forests damaged by spruce budworm in July, with 178,000 acres at risk next spring. The state uses early intervention to prevent an outbreak similar to the one from 1967 to 1993 that devastated millions of acres.
Aroostook County, Maine, United States

No clamming in Ninilchik or Clam Gulch this year
Adult abundance “well below” fishery thresholds on both beaches. This outcome was not unanticipated, as the department said when opening the fishery in Ninilchik last year that adult abundance met necessary thresholds for allowing harvest — at least meeting or exceeding 50% of the historical average — but juvenile abundance was low, meaning there would likely not be enough adult clams this year or next.
Homer News

Nome welcomes 1,800 cruise ship visitors to town
Nome experienced a record-breaking influx of 1,800 cruise ship passengers from the MS Westerdam, enjoying a variety of local tours, cultural presentations, and the Berry Festival during their full-day port of call visit.

Possible rat sighting on remote St. Paul Island raises alarm
A potential rat sighting on St. Paul Island, which has maintained a rat-free status for over two decades, prompts urgent conservation efforts to protect local seabirds and wildlife.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States

Relief applications open for Alaska's 2019 and 2020 crab fisheries disasters
Applications for relief funds from Alaska's 2019 and 2020 crab fisheries disasters are now open, with $13 million allocated for the Bering Sea Tanner crab fishery.
Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

Much of Juneau's king salmon fishery will close this summer, because of a 2020 landslide
Juneau's king salmon fishery will be closed this summer due to low hatchery returns caused by a 2020 landslide that disrupted the freshwater supply and forced premature salmon release.

Yukon First Nation calls for audit of government response to mine disaster
The First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun has requested an audit by Canada's auditor general of the Yukon government's handling of the Victoria Gold mine landslide.
Yukon, Canada

Millions in the US prepare for more sweltering heat as floodwaters inundate parts of the Midwest
As the US grapples with extreme heat, floodwaters force evacuations in the Midwest, including a submerged Iowa town.
Brandon, South Dakota, United States
Anchorage Daily News- The Associated Press

City investigating water outflow as Yellowknife forced to draw from bay to replenish reservoir
Yellowknife is using water from Yellowknife Bay to refill its reservoirs due to unusually high outflow rates at a pumphouse, the cause of which is under investigation.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Cultural heritage in Svalbard – cleaning up after a century of coal mining
The article details how environmental laws in Svalbard mandate the restoration of landscapes after coal mining, highlighting the extensive cleanup efforts at the former mining site Svea and mitigation plans at Mine 7.
Svea, Svalbard, Norway

New Alaska water quality rules are coming. Here's what that could mean for wastewater systems.
Alaska's impending water quality regulations may necessitate advanced treatment for contaminants like phthalates in wastewater, posing challenges for local systems to comply with stricter EPA standards.

Yukon fire season 'normal' so far, with major fires unlikely in coming weeks, officials say
Yukon likely won't see any major wildfires for at least the next month, emergency officials said at a briefing on Thursday.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

NOAA researchers study sea ice retreat, link to harmful algal blooms
NOAA researchers are studying the connection between sea ice retreat and harmful algal blooms in the Bering Sea, aiming to improve prediction and monitoring tools for these events that pose risks to public health and marine ecosystems.

An influx of chum salmon in the Canadian Arctic could be the same fish missing from Western Alaska
An increase in chum salmon in the Canadian Arctic, potentially linked to climate change, may be the same fish missing from Western Alaska, raising ecological concerns.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Reported trawling too close to Kuskokwim Bay draws industry response
Industry representatives assert that trawling near Kuskokwim Bay complies with regulations and does not impact salmon, despite local concerns about habitat damage and fish migration.
Kuskokwim, Alaska, United States

Green crabs to choke cherry trees, invasive species infesting Alaska
Invasive species like green crabs and choke cherry trees are causing environmental and economic harm in Alaska.

A petition to put king salmon on the endangered species list is raising alarm across Alaska
A petition to list king salmon as endangered in Alaska faces opposition due to concerns about its impact on local fisheries and management practices.

Arctic Ambition: Taloyoak's Quest to Transform Its Economy Through Environmental Protection
In Taloyoak, Nunavut, Inuit leaders are working to establish an Inuit Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) to safeguard their culturally significant lands and build a sustainable, community-driven economy. The initiative highlights the community’s determination to protect traditional food sources and cultural practices in the face of potential industrial development.
Taloyoak, Nunavut, Canada

Syke: Finland's sea areas at 'significant risk' for toxic blue-green algae blooms
The institute started monitoring the cyanobacteria situation at the beginning of June and will continue until the end of September.
News

How much fish do Alaskans eat? Enough to require new water pollution rules, EPA says
The EPA is pushing Alaska to update water pollution rules due to Alaskans' high seafood consumption, with state officials acknowledging the need for revised standards.

Last year’s record outburst flood took Juneau by surprise. As Suicide Basin refills, scientists are working to improve their forecasts.
Scientists are enhancing flood forecasts in Juneau as Suicide Basin refills, following an unexpected record flood last year caused by rapid drainage.

An Alaska wildlife refuge is changing its wildfire strategy to limit carbon emissions
If blazes break out in parts of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, firefighters will protect the layers of forest floor and permafrost that hold carbon.
Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge

Permafrost thaw impacts are wide, but not climate tipping point: study
A study finds that while permafrost thaw in the North is causing local and regional changes, it is not a global climate tipping point.
Newtok, Alaska, United States

In Northwest Alaska, an economic engine runs low on ore
In Northwest Alaska, the Red Dog mine faces potential delays in expansion, risking future revenue and jobs for the local community, amid environmental and cultural impact concerns.
Ambler, Alaska, United States

Why Bird Flu Is Infecting People’s Eyes
In recent weeks, three human infections with the virus have been confirmed—all in dairy workers who had contact with sick cows. All three developed symptoms of eye infections known as conjunctivitis. The latest case, reported in Michigan this week, also involved respiratory symptoms more typical of a flu infection.
Michigan, United States
Scientific American

Anchorage stretch of sub-60 degree days was third longest
Anchorage experienced its third-longest streak of sub-60 degree days, despite Alaska's spring temperatures being normal by recent standards but cooler than historical averages.

Bird flu can infect cats. What does that mean for their people?
The article discusses the potential for bird flu to mutate and spread to humans through domestic cats, highlighting unusual cases of cat infections and the risks posed by raw diets and unpasteurized milk.
Science News

Rivers in Alaska are turning orange. The reason surprised even scientists
Rivers and streams in Alaska are changing color – from a clean, clear blue to a rusty orange – because of the toxic metals released by thawing permafrost, according to a new study.
Kutuk River
CNN

Qawalangin Tribe works to reintroduce blue mussels as safe local food source
While blue mussels are a traditional source of subsistence food in Unalaska, in recent years, reduced numbers and concerns about paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, have limited the amount locals can safely harvest.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Federal bill would add veterinary care to IHS duties to address rabies, other risks in rural Alaska
A federal bill aims to expand IHS duties to include veterinary care in rural Alaska, addressing the scarcity of such services and the risk of rabies from wildlife.

Record salmon harvest closures in Chukotka
Experts decided that during the fishing season, red fish in the water area of the Anadyr estuary can be caught only two days a week. It was decided to introduce a large number of passing days to preserve the chum salmon population spawning in this basin.
Prochukotku.ru

Whale surveys planned for eastern Bering Sea this summer
This summer, NOAA and the International Whaling Commission will conduct aerial and ship-based surveys in the eastern Bering Sea to monitor beluga and large baleen whale populations, employing new methods and expanding survey areas based on previous findings.
Eastern Bering Sea

Metal mobilization from thawing permafrost to aquatic ecosystems is driving rusting of Arctic streams
Recent discoloration of 75 streams in Arctic Alaska reflects increased iron and trace metal loading following climate-driven permafrost thaw. These findings have considerable implications for drinking water supplies and subsistence fisheries.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Nature

Yukon's Grey-headed Chickadee now considered endangered
The Grey-headed chickadee found in the far north of Yukon and Alaska was listed as endangered this month, and experts say the bird is so rare that it's hard to estimate its numbers. The decline might be related to competition as Boreal Chickadees are moving north because of climate change.
Old Crow, Yukon, Canada

Need to evacuate this summer? NWT says you're getting $800
The GNWT says it's earmarked $800 per resident age 18 or over and $400 for each dependent under 18. Applicants may be required to provide proof of residency in the community they live in, such as a utility bill, proof of dependents such as birth certificates, and identification like a driver's license — so if you are ordered to evacuate make sure you pack those along.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Bill to ban toxic 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foams passes Alaska House and Senate
Alaska's legislature has passed a bill to ban PFAS chemicals in firefighting foams, addressing the contamination of drinking water.

Hawaii study shows almost 75% of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues
A University of Hawaii study examining the health effects of last year’s deadly wildfires on Maui has found that up to 74% of participants may have difficulty breathing and otherwise have poor respiratory health.
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States
AP News

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

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

Japan to start hunting fin whales after five years of commercial whaling
Japan plans to expand its commercial whaling to include fin whales, five years after resuming whaling and leaving the IWC.
Japan
The Japan Times

Whale fight: Right-wing leader wants to shoot more and market whales abroad
A right-wing leader advocates for increased whale hunting and international marketing of whale meat, despite global regulations and declining participation in the industry.
Norway

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

'Unprecedented': How bird flu became an animal pandemic
This article examines the unique spread of bird flu across multiple animal species, marking an unusual animal pandemic.
Earth

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

The governor has a big decision to make about the Eklutna River and hydro project. Here’s what to know.
The article discusses a contentious proposal for new fish passage infrastructure at the Eklutna River dam, with differing plans and potential legal challenges as stakeholders await the governor's decision.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Canada is 'missing the mark' on remediation and reconciliation, says Yellowknives Dene chief
The Yellowknives Dene Chief criticizes Canada's handling of contaminated sites in the North, highlighting a lack of reconciliation and proper management, as an auditor's report calls for better inclusion of Indigenous peoples and long-term care plans.

Sea levels are likely to rise throughout Norway as a result of climate change
The sea level will probably rise along the entire coast of Norway. Stavanger is among the most vulnerable places.

King Cove braces for salmon season with no seafood processor amid historic price slump
The plant, formerly owned by Peter Pan Seafood Company, is the economic engine for the Alaska Peninsula community.
King Cove, Alaska, United States
KTOO

How do chum salmon spend the winter?
Recent surveys reveal that chum salmon face challenges during winter in the Gulf of Alaska, with conditions like marine heatwaves affecting their diet and survival, leading to increased mortality rates.
Gulf of Alaska

Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous
An AP investigation reveals that political disputes and blame fears halted the search for COVID-19's origins in China, contradicting public claims of ongoing efforts.
Wuhan, Hubei, China
AP News

Caribou herds in B.C. and Alberta have grown nearly 50%, mostly due to wolf culls, study finds
A study attributes the nearly 50% growth of caribou herds in B.C. and Alberta to controversial wolf culls, which may need to continue for decades.

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

What's Causing Russia's Record Floods?
This region endured similar major floods in 1922, 1942 and 1957 though the current disaster was "extraordinary and all previous 'records' have been surpassed," she added.The Ural River flooded Russia's Orenburg region in particular, while the Ishim — which feeds the Siberian regions of Tyumen and Omsk, and northern Kazakhstan — also burst its banks.
Orenburg, Orenburg, Russia

Scientists, Alaska Native leaders say the Arctic faces a growing crisis from plastic waste
Arctic communities and scientists report a crisis from increasing plastic waste, which contaminates traditional food sources and threatens the health of Alaska Native populations.
Bering Sea, Alaska

Canada's 2024 wildfire season expected to be even worse than last year's
Due to a mild winter and warmer year, this wildfire season is looking to be worse, not better, than the last
Canada
nationalpost

WA declares statewide drought emergency following poor snowpack
Washington State declares a statewide drought emergency due to significantly low snowpack levels, with expectations of less than 75% of the normal water supply.
Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Anchorage winter ties for second snowiest on record but hitting all-time mark unlikely
A whopping 132.6 inches of snow -- more than 11 feet -- fell on the city this winter, as of the latest measurement Friday.

Federal regulators cut Western Arctic caribou harvest limit to 15 animals a year
Federal regulators have significantly reduced the Western Arctic caribou harvest limit for local subsistence hunters from five animals per day to 15 per year, with only one cow allowed, due to the herd's continued decline and low cow survival rates. Non-local hunting is banned until the herd recovers.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States

Seabird demonstration: Eider populations continue to decline along the coast – scientists don't know why
Eider populations along the Norwegian coast have declined by up to 80%, with a nationwide decrease of 35-40%, and the reasons remain unknown.

Russian objection to U.S. territorial claims off Alaska complicates maritime relationship
Russia's objection to U.S. claims off Alaska highlights tensions in maritime relations and underscores the U.S. disadvantage in territorial disputes due to its non-ratification of the Law of the Sea treaty.
Arctic Ocean

Schools closed, safe rooms open for severe weather
Ahead of Wednesday’s anticipated severe weather, county officials are making some important announcements.
McLain, Mississippi, United States

1 dead, 126 homes damaged or destroyed due to severe weather in Mississippi
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has issued an updated damage report from Tuesday and Wednesday’s severe weather. According to MEMA, one person in Grenada County died. Six were injured, two of which were in Scott County. Details regarding where the other four injuries took place have not been released...
Grenada, Mississippi, United States
SuperTalk Mississippi 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.

Tsunami program that informs Alaskans of the danger is itself at risk
It funds maps, sirens and education. "Losing this program, really, at the end of the day could mean deaths in Alaska," says a state official.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Western Alaska tribes, outraged by bycatch, turn up the heat on fishery managers and trawlers
The years-long debate is taking on increasing urgency as subsistence harvesting bans continue and the policy responses under consideration threaten to impose steep costs on the industry.
Nulato, Alaska, United States

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

Canada's wildfires blamed for rise in global loss of tree cover outside of tropics
Canada's record wildfires contribute significantly to global non-tropical tree cover loss, with implications for climate change and biodiversity.
Canada

Canada, Alaska suspend fishing of Yukon River chinook salmon for 7 years
Canada and Alaska have agreed to a seven-year fishing moratorium on Yukon River chinook salmon to aid the species' recovery, following years of declining numbers.
Yukon River, Alaska

Canada's mild winter disrupts key ice road to remote Arctic diamond mines
Canada's mild winter has caused the longest recent delay in opening the Arctic ice road, essential for diamond mine access and goods transport, highlighting climate change impacts on infrastructure.
ArcticToday

Landslide-triggered tsunamis can strike without warning. Alaska researchers are trying to change that.
Alaska researchers are developing a method to detect landslide-triggered tsunamis, aiming to provide early warnings for such unpredictable events.

Commercial fisheries may soon be at the Bering Strait’s doorstep
Sea ice loss, warming waters and the northward expansion of fish species like pollock are all contributing to a pattern in the Bering Strait region known as “borealization.” That means the Arctic ecosystem is becoming more like the boreal region to the south.

Nine water lines and six sewer lines remain frozen after Swan lake Loop failed last month
Emergency measures are in place in Kotzebue after a failure in the Swan Lake Loop left 74 households without water, prompting local and state officials to declare an emergency and take action to provide services and repair infrastructure.

Alaska creates climate plan to reduce statewide emissions and fund a wide range of sustainable energy projects
Alaska's new Sustainable Energy Action Plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy, excluding oil industry cuts.

Peltola has fish on her mind during Cama-i trip to Bethel
Rep. Mary Peltola discusses the challenges facing Alaska's fisheries, including declining salmon populations and the impact on subsistence and commercial fishing, during her visit to Bethel for the Cama-i Dance Festival.

Amid salmon crash, Alaska’s Yukon River residents say a new pact with Canada leaves them behind
Alaska's Yukon River residents feel neglected by a new Canada-U.S. agreement aimed at rebuilding salmon stocks, as the pact requires a seven-year fishing halt that exacerbates their economic and cultural struggles.
Yukon River, Alaska, United States

Technology that detects volcanoes and nuclear explosions will listen for avalanches in Juneau
An infrasound avalanche detection system, previously used for monitoring volcanoes and nuclear tests, is being installed in Juneau to improve avalanche mitigation and road safety.

Beaver expansion into Alaska’s Arctic tundra presents problems for people – and opportunities
Beavers are transforming Alaska's Arctic tundra, creating both challenges for local communities and ecological opportunities, as their population and dam-building activities alter landscapes and affect permafrost.
The Arctic

Arctic rivers face big changes with warming climate, permafrost thaw and accelerating water cycle
Arctic rivers are undergoing significant changes due to a warming climate, with increased precipitation and permafrost thaw leading to stronger flows and altered chemical compositions.
The Arctic

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.

Norway need more ammunition, the Chemring Nobel explosive plant increases its emissions fivefold
The Chemring Nobel explosive plant in Norway is increasing its emissions fivefold, raising concerns about worsening nitrogen pollution in the Oslo fjord.
Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Federal grant to bring heat pumps to households, solar energy to villages in Northwest Arctic
A federal grant will provide heat pumps to households and solar energy systems to villages in the Northwest Arctic, aiming to reduce energy costs and reliance on diesel, with an expected annual revenue of nearly $1 million for the region.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States

In this drought year, Alberta's water allocation is under the microscope. Here's what the data says
Alberta's water allocation data reveals regional disparities in usage and availability, with agriculture dominating in the south and oil and gas in the north, amidst concerns of overuse and drought.
Alberta, Canada

Alaska will receive $2.6M towards small scale food production
Alaska receives $2.6M from the USDA to enhance local food production, aiming to bolster food security in a state where 95% of food is imported.

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

Over 20 Alaska villages on tap for $125M in federal funds for solar and hydroelectric projects
Alaska is set to receive $125M in federal funds for renewable energy projects, benefiting over 20 villages with solar, hydroelectric, and storage initiatives.

Alaskapox death brings attention to small animal virus
For nine years, Alaska health officials have been aware of an unusual virus causing rare, relatively mild illnesses in the Fairbanks area. But a recent case in another part of the state — this one resulting in a man's death — has brought new attention to the Alaskapox virus.

What is causing the rusting of northern Alaska streams?
The oranging of northern rivers seems to be related to recent permafrost thaw that has allowed streams to release previously captive iron, trace metals and acid.
Kougarok, River

Conservationists ask feds to protect rare Kigluaik buttercup flower
Conservationists petition for federal protection of the rare Kigluaik buttercup, threatened by climate change and proposed mining activities.
Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska

BLM hears pleas for retaining protections on D-1 lands
Indigenous communities in the Bering Strait region advocate for maintaining federal protections on D-1 lands to safeguard their subsistence lifestyle and cultural heritage from the impacts of state management and resource extraction.

Scientists investigate paralytic shellfish poisoning as possible factor in large marine die offs
Scientists are investigating the widespread presence of paralytic shellfish toxins in Alaska's marine food chain, which may explain recent species die-offs.
Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Chugach forecasters warn of dangerous avalanche conditions after 1 death, 2 close calls
Chugach forecasters issue warnings of high avalanche danger following a fatal incident and two non-fatal close calls in the mountains.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Alaska state geologists’ report on fatal landslide in Wrangell cites heavy rainfall as trigger
The state is seeking new support from FEMA and other partners to expand studies of landslide risks on Wrangell Island and elsewhere in Alaska.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

NASA climate satellite blasts off to survey oceans and atmosphere of a warming Earth
NASA's PACE satellite, designed to study ocean biology in unprecedented detail, has been successfully launched to enhance understanding of Earth's changing climate and improve weather forecasting.
Florida, United States

Microplastics found in body tissues of walruses harvested by Alaska hunters
“It’s a reflection of the plastic age we live in," said student researcher Tony Blade. "It’s ubiquitous."
Wainwright, Alaska, United States

Alaska's Arctic and boreal ecosystems see climate change-driven 'microbial awakening'
Climate change is causing a 'microbial awakening' in Alaska's ecosystems, altering food webs as fungi become a major energy source for small mammals.
Alaska Arctic

Meant to protect the land from wildfires, fire retardant could be doing damage of its own
Residents in the Sahtu region are voicing concerns that fire retardants used to combat wildfires in the Northwest Territories may be harming the environment, affecting wildlife, vegetation, and aquatic systems. Local observations and research indicate that areas treated with these chemicals show signs of degraded recovery and potential long-term ecological impacts.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

Kotzebue residents report heat loss and issues with Vitus fuel amid frigid temps
Kotzebue residents face heating challenges as Vitus fuel thickens in extreme cold, leading to clogged filters and system failures, prompting some to switch suppliers.

State regulators limit hunting of Western Arctic caribou to 15 animals a year
Subsistence hunters living in Northwest Alaska and parts of the North Slope are now only allowed to hunt up to 15 animals a year, only one of which can be a cow. This is a considerable change from five caribou a day, and it goes into effect on state-managed lands on July 1.

Panhandle snowpack near record low
Idaho's Panhandle is experiencing near record-low snowpack levels, with persistent dry conditions and forecasts suggesting a continued negative impact on snowpack development.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Coeur d'Alene Press

Noticing less snow in New England? Researchers are too
A Dartmouth study reveals a significant decline in New England's snowpack, with many river basins losing over 10% per decade due to human-caused climate change.
Saint-Léonard, New Brunswick, Canada

Southcentral Alaska waterways survey finds widespread microplastics
A study by the Alaska Environment Research and Policy Center found microplastics in all water samples from Southcentral Alaska, indicating widespread contamination.

A new children’s book about ringed seal highlights traditional knowledge and science in Kotzebue
The new children's book combines traditional knowledge and scientific research to tell the story of a ringed seal pup in Kotzebue, Alaska, with a focus on the impact of climate change.

NZ's first caulerpa dredging machine to be used in Northland's fight against invasive seaweed
New Zealand's first mechanical suction dredge is being trialed in Northland to combat the invasive seaweed caulerpa, potentially revolutionizing marine biosecurity efforts.
Murchison, Tasman, New Zealand
NZ Herald

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.

Wyloo Metals CEO gives update on Ring of Fire mining projects, though First Nations resistance continues
Wyloo Metals CEO Kristan Straub updates on the sustainable development of the Ring of Fire's Eagle's Nest nickel deposit, amid ongoing resistance and legal challenges from some First Nations seeking greater consultation and environmental protection.
Webequie, Canada

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 Empire

Anchorage homeless shelters under strain amid statewide cold snap
Staff at Anchorage's Brother Francis Shelter have seen cases of hypothermia and frostbite, during a subzero chill expected to continue next week.

Elma the mammoth's wanderings mapped across Alaska
Scientists have tracked the life journey of a mammoth named Elma across ancient Alaska, revealing her path overlapped with human hunter camps, using chemical analysis of her tusk as a "chemical GPS."

Norway expands oil drilling, boosts production
Norway awards 62 new oil drilling licenses, signaling a push towards a 15-year peak in oil and gas production despite international calls for a halt in fossil fuel exploration.
Barents Sea

Norway receives sharp criticism in the European Parliament
Norway faces criticism from the European Parliament and environmental groups for its decision to allow mineral exploration in the Barents and Greenland Seas, despite concerns over potential ecological impacts and calls for a ban until proven safe.

Juneau’s deadliest landslide tore through downtown like a ‘mighty grinder.’ Now it’s a fading memory.
Juneau's history of deadly landslides, particularly the 1936 disaster that killed multiple residents, is a testament to the region's susceptibility to such events, which may increase with changing weather patterns.

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

Peter Pan's King Cove plant will stay closed this winter as fishing industry turmoil spreads
Peter Pan's King Cove plant closure during the winter will impact local revenue and fishermen, amid industry-wide financial struggles and delayed payments.

US in deep freeze while much of the world is extra toasty? Yet again, it's climate change
The U.S. experiences extreme cold as the rest of the world faces unusual warmth, a pattern scientists attribute to climate change.
United States

Resilience, recovery prioritized in Iceland report on Grindavik evacuation
The Icelandic government released a report one year after a natural disaster led to the evacuation of Grindavík, detailing its response and future prevention strategies.
Grindavik, Southern Peninsula, Iceland

Tribes request federal consultation over Graphite One
Tribes from Teller, Brevig Mission, and Mary's Igloo are urging the U.S. Department of Defense to consult with them after a $37.5 million grant was awarded to Graphite One without their input, impacting local ecosystems and subsistence practices.

Caribou management and health
Experts discuss strategies for ensuring the health and sustainability of Alaska's caribou amidst environmental and developmental challenges.

As the permafrost melts, the houses in Nunapitchuk are breaking down
Melting permafrost in Nunapitchuk is causing severe structural damage to homes, leading to erosion, instability, and health issues for residents.
Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States

Alaska beekeepers kill their colonies every fall, but an Anchorage man has another way
An Anchorage beekeeper has learned how to help his honeybee colonies survive to see spring, and he’s teaching others to do the same.

As Conoco's Willow project advances, 2 local governments have withdrawn their criticism
Two local governments have retracted their criticism of Conoco's Willow project, now focusing on protecting subsistence resources and leveraging project opportunities.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Alaska's open seasons on predators are approved behind closed doors
Alaska's predator control measures and wildlife management strategies are under scrutiny as tensions rise over state and federal jurisdiction, with calls for more inclusive decision-making and realistic goals amidst rapid climate change.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

With Anchorage’s record-setting snow, officials say it’s not a bad idea to shovel roofs
Officials in Anchorage suggest residents consider shoveling their roofs due to record snowfall and the potential for more, along with concerns about ice dams and roof stress.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin is high in some subsistence harvests, according to Knik Tribe’s data
Knik Tribe data reveals high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin in some Alaskan subsistence shellfish harvests, with variability in toxin levels across different locations.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Could a new Alaska coal power plant be climate friendly? An $11 million study aims to find out
An $11 million study, funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant, will investigate the feasibility of a new coal power plant in Alaska with carbon capture and storage technology.
Susitna, Alaska, United States
ArcticToday

A Major Climate Force Has Been Ignored for Decades
A significant, yet often overlooked, impact of voles on the Arctic tundra's carbon cycle, highlighting their potential to influence whether the tundra acts as a carbon sink or source.
The Atlantic

Hatcheries hurt nearly all wild salmon populations, study finds
A comprehensive analysis of over 200 studies reveals that fish hatchery programs have predominantly negative impacts on wild salmon populations, reducing genetic diversity and overall health.
Pacific Ocean
ArcticToday

More than 33 thousand tons of goods were delivered to Chukotka
The Regional Department of Agriculture and Food summed up the results of the northern delivery. In 2023, supplies of food and essential goods increased. In total, 33.3 thousand tons of cargo were delivered to the region. This exceeded the 2022 figures by almost half.
Анадырь, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

Falcon Population Dwindling
The Icelandic gyrfalcon population is at its lowest, with many nests empty, likely due to a higher than estimated impact of bird flu.
Iceland

Weather 2024: A weirdly warm, wet and recording-breaking year for Spokane
Spokane experienced its fourth-hottest year on record in 2024, with exceptional summer heat, a significant dust storm, and an unprecedentedly wet late-year. Weather extremes spanned subzero temperatures in January to record summer heat and heavy rainfall later on.
Spokane, Washington, United States
The Spokesman-Review

Tribes organize 'First Indigenous Sovereign Habitat Tribal Conservation District' from Bering Sea to Interior Alaska
A coalition of 38 tribes in Alaska received a $1.2 million federal grant to establish the 'First Indigenous Sovereign Habitat Tribal Conservation District' for co-management of federal lands from the Bering Sea to Interior Alaska.
Bering Sea

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.”

11 people charged in Sweden's biggest ever environmental crime case
Eleven individuals from Think Pink are charged in Sweden's largest environmental crime case for illegally dumping waste, causing fires and toxic leaks.
Botkyrka, Sweden

ConocoPhillips announces official go-ahead for huge Willow oil project in Alaska
ConocoPhillips has officially sanctioned the development of the Willow oil project in Alaska, expected to produce 600 million barrels over its lifetime and create thousands of jobs.

'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

Anchorage used to have an active climate action plan. What happened to it?
Anchorage's climate action plan, adopted in 2019 to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050, has seen little progress and poor communication under Mayor Bronson's administration.

The Norwegian Electricity Authority finds faults in almost three out of four solar panels
The Norwegian Electricity Authority reports faults in approximately 75% of solar panels, raising concerns about potential fires as inexperienced installers need more safety training.

America is larger now, by declaration of State Department
The U.S. State Department has expanded America's territory by defining the extent of its continental shelf, claiming an area roughly twice the size of California, mostly in the Arctic.

Big changes are coming to Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area
The U.S. Forest Service has finalized a plan to revamp Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, addressing tourism growth and community concerns.

Western Arctic Caribou Herd population decline continues, with hunting expected to be affected
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd continues to decline, now at about a third of its 2003 population, with hunting restrictions likely as part of conservation efforts.
Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States

‘We’re always going to be surprised’: Wrangell’s tragedy highlights Alaska’s lack of landslide monitoring
The Wrangell landslide tragedy underscores Alaska's challenge in landslide prediction due to insufficient monitoring and data collection.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

Annual Arctic Report Card focuses on Indigenous knowledge and resilience after warmest summer on record
The 2023 Arctic Report Card highlights unprecedented summer warmth, ecological shifts, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge in understanding and adapting to climate change impacts.
The Arctic

Degrading permafrost likely caused Diomede city building’s collapse
The collapse of Diomede city's building, suspected to be caused by melting permafrost, has led to emergency measures and online schooling as efforts to stabilize and dismantle the structure proceed.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

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 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.

Investing in offshore wind where we hardly know anything about nature
Norway faces criticism for allowing companies to conduct their own environmental impact assessments for offshore wind projects, with calls for stricter regulations and better use of existing marine research to protect nature.

El Niño heads north: how tropical weather impacts the Arctic
El Nino is causing warmer and drier conditions in the Arctic, leading to record warm falls in Northern communities and challenging traditional hunting and trapping due to delayed ice formation.

Study points to concurrent marine heat waves as culprit in Western Alaska chum declines
In the much-higher water temperatures that lingered in the 2014-19 period, juvenile chum salmon metabolism was super-charged, meaning they needed more food, said the study, by scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. But the food that was available was of low quality — things like jellyfish instead of the fatpacked krill and other prey they normally eat, the study said.
Bering Sea

How studying arctic ground squirrels can help advance human brain health
Researchers are studying arctic ground squirrels, whose unique hibernation abilities may offer insights into treating human brain injuries and diseases.
PBS NewsHour

Husband of sole Wrangell landslide survivor found dead in search
Otto Florschutz, a candidate in the 2022 U.S. House special election, was found dead following a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska, that also claimed the lives of four members of the Heller family.

Inuit group, citing dramatic effects in the Arctic, calls for bigger role in international climate action
The Inuit Circumpolar Council is advocating for a greater role in international climate discussions, highlighting the severe climate impacts in the Arctic and seeking access to global climate funds.

Nearly $225 million ISK in grants for farmers after harsh winter in Iceland's North
Iceland's Disaster Relief Fund has disbursed nearly 225 million ISK to 89 farmers affected by an unusually cold winter in 2023-2024 in northern Iceland, covering 80% of the expected payout.
Northern Region, Iceland

Alaska’s top veterinarian warns of respiratory illness that’s killed several Lower 48 dogs
More than a dozen states, including several in the Pacific Northwest, are reporting outbreaks of a new respiratory illness. There have also been increases in canine respiratory illness cases at a clinic in Southeast Alaska and another in Southcentral, but there’s no indication yet if those were due to the mystery illness.
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Possible outbreak of botulism suspected in Sanikiluaq
Health officials in Sanikiluaq, Hudson Bay, warn against consuming fermented meat due to a suspected botulism outbreak and urge vigilance for related symptoms.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada
Nunavut News

Alaska’s chief veterinarian issues notice on mysterious illness killing dogs in Lower 48
Alaska's chief veterinarian warns of a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs in the Lower 48 and advises local pet owners to take precautions.

'Charity is not a solution to food insecurity': How to feed the future
Experts argue that transforming food systems through structural changes, Indigenous knowledge, and data sharing is essential for long-term food security and sustainable development.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Alaska experts try to untangle invasive Japanese knotweed
Alaska experts are grappling with the challenge of controlling the highly invasive Japanese knotweed, which is resistant to conventional eradication methods and threatens local ecosystems.

Little Diomede school struck by collapsing building closed indefinitely
The Little Diomede school is closed indefinitely after a collapsing city building, with rotted stilts, leaned on it, causing no injuries but prompting a switch to video conference classes and relocation of teachers.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

Steller sea lions top list of Alaska marine mammals killed by human activities
Steller sea lions are the most affected by human activities in Alaska, leading to hundreds of deaths, primarily due to entanglement in fishing gear.

Reindeer herders and scientists collaborate to understand Arctic warming
Siberian reindeer herders and scientists are working together to figure out how to predict rain-on-snow events that turn tundra into deadly ice.
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Science News

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.

Due to the low returns to spawning grounds, commercial salmon fisheries may be suspended next year
Due to declining salmon returns, Russia may halt commercial salmon fisheries next year to protect the species. This drastic reduction has raised concerns about the sustainability of the fisheries and the need for conservation measures. The situation is so dire that the salmon catch in 2021 was the lowest in the last 16 years, and projections for the 2024-2026 period suggest a continued downward trend.

Northern states prepare for battle against invasion of feral Canadian ‘super pigs’
Northern states are implementing measures to prevent the spread of invasive "super pigs" from Canada, which are a crossbreed of wild boar and domestic swine, causing significant ecological and agricultural damage.

The world briefly smashed through the 2-degree warming limit for the first time ever
The world surpassed the 2-degree warming threshold for the first time, signaling an urgent need to address greenhouse gas emissions as climate impacts worsen.
CNN

Alaska communities must adapt as climate change transforms state, federal report says
Alaska communities are facing significant challenges due to climate change, including the disappearance of snow crabs, threats to subsistence hunting and fishing, and difficulties in processing and storing food, but some communities are taking action and developing local climate adaptation plans with the support of funding and collaboration between different governments and agencies.

Western Alaska salmon crisis affects physical and mental health, residents say
Residents in Western Alaska are experiencing a salmon crisis that is not only affecting their physical health due to the lack of exercise from salmon harvesting, but also their mental health and cultural well-being, as salmon harvesting is seen as a vital part of their way of life and recovery from substance abuse.
Western Alaska, United States

Wolves hunt sea otters and seals, a startling find
Wolves in Katmai, Alaska, have been observed hunting sea otters and seals, suggesting a significant ecological link between land and marine life.
Katmai, Alaska
Animals

4 unsheltered people died outside in Anchorage in the past week. 2 of them were in wheelchairs.
Four unsheltered people, two of whom were in wheelchairs, have died outdoors in Anchorage over the past week as winter weather hits the city, highlighting the ongoing issue of homelessness and the need for preventative measures.

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

Extreme salmon lice outbreak in Iceland: Found 96 lice on average on each salmon
An extreme outbreak of salmon lice in Iceland has resulted in an average of 96 lice found on each salmon, causing outrage and protests against Norwegian fish farming companies.

Otters making a comeback in Sweden
The otter population in Sweden is bouncing back after having been severely hit by hunting, road accidents and toxins in the environment in past decades.Since ...
Sweden

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.
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Biologists find 'concerning' decline in Dall sheep numbers in Yukon's Kluane region
Wildlife surveys in southwest Yukon have shown a 'concerning' decline in the number of Dall sheep — and biologists say recent snowy winters may be to blame.
Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Moose calves are lean and small – hunters are worried
Hunters are concerned about the small and lean size of moose calves, which may be due to various factors such as climate, dry weather, and late-born calves, leading to potential consequences for the moose population.
Drangedal, Vestfold, Norway

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.

Avian flu decimates 5% of Peru's sea lions, sparking conservation alarm
Over 5,000 Peruvian sea lions, approximately 5% of Peru's population, succumbed to a mass mortality event linked to the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, signaling an urgent need for research and conservation efforts to prevent further declines. The rapid spread of the virus among these colonially breeding mammals highlights potential risks of cross-species transmission and the necessity for heightened monitoring to avert new pandemics.
San Gallán Island
News-Medical.net

Another 'pretty abysmal' year for Yukon River chinook and fall chum salmon
A minimum of 42,500 chinook are supposed to get to their Canadian spawning waters to meet conservation goals. Only 15,300 of those fish made it to Eagle, near the Yukon border.

Researcher illustrates animal behaviour in wildfire-burned forest
Geneviève Degré-Timmons, a PhD candidate, is studying why caribou use burned lands and when they stop using them, and has created a painting to represent the cycle of the boreal forest and caribou interactions within it.
Northwest Territories, Canada

Okanagan's water board calls for temporary ban on out-of-province boats
The Okanagan Basin Water Board is proposing a temporary ban on out-of-province boats entering British Columbia's waterways to prevent the introduction of invasive mussels that could cause significant harm to the ecosystem and cost the province millions of dollars annually.
Okanagen Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Kenai borough Assembly asks governor to declare east side set-net economic disaster
The Kenai borough Assembly has passed a resolution asking the governor to declare an economic disaster for set-netters on the east side of Cook Inlet in Alaska, due to the closure of the fishery this year resulting in significant economic losses.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

AI radar used to detect polar bears could be used for grizzly and black bears, too
A new AI radar system called "Bear-dar" has been developed to detect polar bears remotely and send alerts to notify people of their presence, and could potentially be used to detect grizzly and black bears as well, helping humans and bears coexist safely.

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.

Polar bears and whales in the spotlight of toxicological studies
Toxicological studies spotlight the effects of pollutants on polar bears and whales, with new research strategies being developed to understand their impact on marine life.
Arctic

Pollution on the Liffey: Algal blooms at Blessington a threat to Dublin’s drinking water
Algal blooms in the Liffey River threaten Dublin's drinking water due to pollution and climate change, raising concerns about the safety of fish and the future impact on water treatment.
Valleymount, Leinster, Ireland
The Irish Times

Western Arctic Caribou Herd keeps shrinking, 2023 census shows
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska has continued to decline, with a 7% decrease in population from the previous year, prompting concerns about the need for harvest reduction to preserve the herd.
Kobuk, Alaska, United States

UK study finds some species of seabirds are showing signs of developing immunity to avian influenza
A UK study has found that some species of seabirds are developing immunity to avian influenza, which has caused significant mortalities in wild bird populations and poses a threat to human health.
United Kingdom

A squeaky wheel with data: how Nipissing First Nation is healing environmental damage
Nipissing First Nation in Ontario, Canada is using innovative methods, such as aerating water and replacing invasive species with wild rice, to heal environmental damage and improve the ecosystem.
Ontario, Canada
The Narwhal

Expert Proposes Ban on Hunting Puffins
If puffin hunting is banned, that population is expected to decrease by over 10% over the next decade. If hunting continues to be permitted, however, the population is expected to decrease by 30% or even as much as 50% within that same period.
South Iceland

Arctic Warming Triggers Abrupt Ecosystem Shift in North America Deepest Lake
The warming of the Arctic has caused a significant shift in the ecosystem of Great Slave Lake, with smaller diatoms replacing larger ones, potentially impacting the lake's productivity, carbon dynamics, food web, and nearby communities.
Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
Eos

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

North Atlantic right whale population has steadied, scientists say
The North Atlantic right whale population in Canada has stabilized, with no reported deaths since 2019, but there are still concerns about entanglements and low birth rates.
North Atlantic Ocean

New research off Cape Breton sheds light on pilot whale behaviour
New research off Cape Breton reveals that female pilot whales are the most frequent leaders during dives, often leading from the left or right flank, which could provide insights into mass strandings and help guide whales out of stranding situations more efficiently.
Cape Breton, NS, Canada

Lead pollution from small planes threatens human health, EPA finds
The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that lead emissions from small planes pose a threat to public health, potentially leading to the agency's first-ever limits on lead fuel in aviation.

Chum Salmon Are Spawning in the Arctic. It’s an Ominous Sign
Chum salmon spawning in the Arctic may provide food for native fish species, helping them survive in the biologically unproductive waters, as scientists study the changing ecology of the region due to warming temperatures.
North Slope, Alaska
WIRED

Several birds in the forest are in great decline
Several bird species in the forest in Stord, Vestland, Norway are experiencing a significant decline, as indicated by the Raudlista 2021 report. Since 1980, 600 million birds in Europe have disappeared..
Stord, Vestland, Norway

New study hints at huge price tag from permafrost thaw in Alaska
A new study suggests that more than 75% of Earth's near-surface permafrost will be gone by the end of the century, leading to major implications for cold-climate regions like Alaska where permafrost covers the majority of the state and thawing is already well underway, resulting in sinking and unstable infrastructure and significant costs for adaptation.

Many municipalities have not upgraded sewage systems to cope with flash-flooding
Many municipalities still have outdated sewage systems that are at risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
Sweden

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

Hooper Bay's dunes, home to the community’s cultural history, are slipping into the sea
The sand dunes in Hooper Bay, Alaska, which serve as a protective barrier against storms and preserve the community's cultural history, are rapidly eroding and may lead to the relocation of the village. The dunes were once home to sod houses and artifacts dating back to 1600 A.D. The loss of the dunes threatens not only subsistence food resources but also the community's connection to its past. As the dunes continue to erode, there are concerns about the potential relocation of the community and the preservation of their stories and artifacts.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Possible cougar sighting in Whitehorse’s McIntyre neighbourhood
A possible cougar sighting has been reported in Whitehorse's McIntyre neighbourhood, with conservation officers taking the report seriously but considering it unconfirmed.

Hooper Bay families displaced by Merbok could lose housing this month
Families in Hooper Bay, Alaska, who were displaced by Typhoon Merbok last year and currently live in low-income housing, may lose their housing by the end of the month due to the expiration of their temporary emergency placement.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Scientists count huge melts in many protective Antarctic ice shelves. Trillions of tons of ice lost
A new study reveals that four dozen Antarctic ice shelves have shrunk by at least 30% since 1997, with 28 of them losing more than half of their ice, raising concerns about sea level rise due to climate change.
Antarctica
The Associated Press

A year after Typhoon Merbok, some coastal Alaskans struggle to find subsistence foods
Coastal Alaskans in Hooper Bay and Chevak are struggling to find subsistence foods, such as berries and underground caches of roots called “mouse food”, due to the impact of Typhoon Merbok's storm surge and a cold, rainy summer.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Humpback whales increasingly sighted in Arctic Alaska waters better known as bowhead territory
Most of the humpbacks were seen near the Inupiat village of Point Hope, indicating a feeding hotspot in that area. While sightings farther north have been less numerous, there has still been an increase in recent years. The study suggests that climate change and the reduction of Arctic sea ice may be a factor in the expansion of humpback whale range.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

What lichens can tell us about climate and pollution
Lichens can provide valuable information about air quality and environmental conditions, as different species have different sensitivities to pollution and humidity levels, making them useful indicators of climate and pollution levels in a given area.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Nearly 1,000 migrating birds died after crashing into Chicago building
Nearly 1,000 migrating birds died after crashing into a building in Chicago due to a confluence of specific conditions, including unfavorable weather and lights being left on in the building.
Chicago, Illinois, United States

‘Without water, there is no life’: Drought in Brazil’s Amazon is sharpening fears for the future
The extreme drought sweeping across Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is already impacting hundreds of thousands of people and killing local wildlife.
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Department reacts to sick and dead birds
The Department for Fisheries and Hunting in Greenland is responding to reports of sick and dead birds along the country's west coast and east coast, with concerns that it may be due to avian influenza, but the risk of transmission to humans is low.
Greenland
Sermitsiaq.AG

Unalaska under air quality advisory for Shishaldin volcano ashfall
Unalaska in Alaska is under an air quality advisory due to ashfall from the eruption of Mount Shishaldin on Unimak Island, with the advisory extended until Thursday.

More than 100 dolphins found dead in Brazilian Amazon as water temperatures soar
More than 100 dolphins have died in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the past week as the region grapples with a severe drought, and many more could die soon if water temperatures remain high, experts say.
São Paulo, Brazil

Climate change brings cloudberry to Svalbard
After an exceptionally warm summer, ripe cloudberries are for the first time documented at 78° North.
Coal Bay Valley

Harsh 2022-2023 winter impacts wood bison population
Most of the 28 yearlings that were released into the herd in during the summer of 2022 didn't survive.
Lower Innoko-Yukon River

Feeding Birds in Fall and Winter in Alaska
Feeding birds can be as simple as scattering seeds on the ground, or a more sophisticated operation drawing a variety of species. But there are a few important details to keep in mind.

Rock Sandpiper: A hardy sandpiper lingering late
The hardy rock sandpiper is one of the last shorebirds to remain in Nome, Alaska, during October, feeding along rocky jetties despite the harsh conditions.

U.S. Energy Department climate scientist visits Utqiaġvik to highlight permafrost and climate change research
A U.S. Energy Department climate scientist visited UtqiaÄ¡vik to evaluate research progress on permafrost and climate change, highlighting the importance of accurate measurements and models in predicting future climate patterns in the Arctic.

WWF calls for restrictions on most Baltic herring
The Baltic Sea's main herring stocks have fallen below target levels, which is an alarming sign of changes in the sea's ecosystem, according to WWF Finland.
Baltic Sea, Finland

‘Too hot’ for salmon: How climate change is contributing to the Yukon salmon collapse
Researchers say climate change is playing a big role in the collapse, which has left thousands of people along the river without the salmon they depend on.
Yukon River, Alaska

As climate change and high costs plague Alaska's fisheries, fewer young people take up the trade
As climate change and high costs impact Alaska's fisheries, fewer young people are entering the trade, posing challenges for the industry's future.

Methane beneath the Greenland ice sheet to intensify climate warming, scientists warn. A unique project to access the ice-sheet bed hopes to expose the scale of the danger
Scientists warn that methane trapped beneath the Greenland ice sheet could intensify climate warming as the ice melts, releasing the potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere at accelerating rates.

Research team reveals new results of bottom sediments and subsea permafrost temperatures in the Russian Arctic shelf
A research team has discovered that bottom sediment temperatures in the Russian Arctic shelf vary across different regions, with the Kara Sea having higher temperatures due to warm currents and large Siberian rivers, and the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea having the lowest temperatures and thicker subsea permafrost, which is important for understanding the degradation of permafrost and methane emissions in the region.
Kara Sea
Phys.org

Road damage after rain
Evacuations due to the risk of landslides were lifted at Seyðisfjörður this morning. Rain in Neskaupstaður yesterday was on a once-in-a-century scale. Some roads have been badly damaged.
Neskaupstaður, East, Iceland
RÚV

High levels of 'forever chemicals' found in Swedish crayfish
Swedish crayfish sold in stores have been found to contain high levels of PFAS chemicals, with four out of seven packages exceeding the safety limit set by EU law, according to the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
Björkvik, Västerbotten, Sweden
Sveriges Radio

Slithering their way in: Common garter snakes are no longer a rarity in southwestern Newfoundland
Common garter snakes are no longer rare in southwestern Newfoundland, and researchers are conducting genetic work to determine their origin.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Saltwire

Southeast Alaska harvest data shows moose moving to new areas
Moose in Southeast Alaska are being harvested in new areas, indicating a potential expansion of their population and distribution.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States

All animals to be culled at fur farms with bird flu infections
Last month the Finnish Food Authority ordered all minks to be put down at fur farms with diagnosed avian influenza infections. Now the order has been expanded to cover all animals at such farms. The agency’s latest order affects approximately 115,000 animals, including 109,000 foxes.
Ostrobothnia Province, Finland
Sarah Yoder, Kimberlee Beckmen, Bob Gerlach

Hoonah gives residents bear-resistant trash cans but most of Southeast Alaska can’t afford them
Hoonah, Alaska is providing residents with free bear-resistant trash bins to address the problem of bears getting into trash, but most towns in Southeast Alaska cannot afford them, leading to conflicts between bears and humans.
Hoonah, Alaska, United States

Bans on Swedish meat imports following swine fever outbreak
Countries including South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Phillipines have halted imports of Swedish pork following the recent discovery of African swine fever. 7 dead wild boars have now been confirmed infected.
Sweden

Efforts underway to save salmon trapped in B.C. lake due to drought
More than 80 per cent of B.C.'s water basins are experiencing level 4 or 5 drought conditions, with salmon in many parts of the province struggling to make it to their spawning grounds.
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Hunters concerned there are too few moose in the Swedish forests
The number of moose in Swedish forests has decreased by a third in the past decade, leading hunters to worry about the future of the annual moose hunt and calling for lower hunting quotas to stabilize the population.
Sveriges Radio

Teller may move to higher ground
Teller is considering moving to a new subdivision site to avoid flood zones and eventually connect to water and sewer systems, with the project estimated to be completed by summer 2025.
Teller, Alaska, United States

A new e-waste program is recycling tons of batteries from rural Alaska
A new e-waste program in rural Alaska collected and recycled over 145,000 pounds of lead-acid batteries from 45 communities, addressing the challenge of hazardous waste disposal in remote areas.

Can I safely eat the strawberries I picked?
"I am concerned about high levels of PFAS contamination in the drinking water?"
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States
Nadine Kochuten, Sarah Yoder, Brian Berube, Christy McDonald, Karen Pletnikoff, Bailey Richards

Retreating sea ice in Arctic affecting zooplankton behaviour
“Particularly when it comes to the topmost 20 metres of the water column, just below the sea ice, there was no available data on the zooplankton,” Hauke Flores, a researcher from the  Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI),said in a statement. “But it’s precisely this hard-to-reach area that’s most interesting,

After a disaster like Juneau’s August flood, mental health can be a neglected part of the recovery
August flooding in Juneau has resulted in severe damage to private homes. After such events physical damage to buildings and homes are obvious. What do the experts say about mental health challenges after events such as the Mendenhall Glacier event?
Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska, United States

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.

This famous Rocky Mountain glacier is dying, say scientists, warning us of what’s to come
Scientists have tracked the fate of the Peyto Glacier in the Rocky Mountains for decades as a global reference point. It’s disappearing faster than expected, which is a warning sign for communities downstream that depend on its water.
Banff, Alberta, Canada

Southeast commercial red and blue king crab fishery remains closed for upcoming season
The Southeast Alaska commercial red and blue king crab fishery will remain closed for the upcoming season due to low stock numbers, although some areas have shown signs of rebounding, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Sitka’s tourism boom has brought a staggering increase in cigarette butts
Sitka's tourism boom has led to a significant increase in cigarette butt litter, prompting a monthly cleanup effort and concerns about the environmental impact of the litter.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Severe Vibrio vulnificus Infections in the United States Associated with Warming Coastal Waters
Severe Vibrio vulnificus infections in the United States are associated with warming coastal waters, with an increase in infections in the Eastern United States and an expanded geographic range.
CDC - Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00497 |

Sinking Permafrost Sinks Pipelines In Russia And Canada
Melting permafrost will increase the maintenance costs for critical infrastructure by $15.5 billion by mid-century but unable to prevent some $21.6 billion in damages. Nearly 70% of current infrastructure located on permafrost is at risk, including major oil and gas fields, pipelines, and mines.
Forbes

Pretty but pesky: Alaskans wage war on invasive plants
A "weed smackdown" at an Anchorage park is part of a long-running campaign to stop the spread of plants that are harming the natural ecosystem.

More than 25 tons of garbage were removed by volunteers of the Clean Arctic project in the north of Chukotka
Volunteers of the Clean Arctic project in the north of Chukotka, Russia, have removed more than 25 tons of garbage. The project aims to clean up the Arctic region and protect its fragile ecosystem. The volunteers have been working tirelessly to collect and dispose of waste, including plastic, metal, and other debris. The efforts have been successful in reducing pollution and preserving the natural beauty of the area. The project has received support from local communities and organizations, and it continues to make a positive impact on the environment.
Billings, Russia

The Hokksund family has water in their living room for the second time – probably won't be able to move home until next year
The Hokksund family in Drammen, Norway, has experienced flooding in their living room for the second time and may not be able to return home until next year due to ongoing flooding in the area.
Drammen, Buskerud, Norway

Bjørn Ole (13) was sucked into pipes in the floodwaters
– Han har hatt helt utrolig flaks, sier mor Cecilie etter at sønnen ble dratt gjennom et over 200 meter langt rør med flomvann.
Knapstad, Viken, Norway

N.W.T. fires have released 97 megatonnes of carbon, says European agency — 277 times what its people emit
Wildfires in the N.W.T have emitted 97 megatonnes of carbon into the air so far this year according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. That's 277 times more than what was caused by humans in the territory back in 2021.

Utqiagvik City asks residents to properly dispose of beluga bones or request help with cleanup
About five beluga carcasses were left at the NARL Boat Dock on Aug. 8, causing smell and potential wildlife hazard in the area. The bones were cleaned the same day but the city reminded residents they can get help with cleanup after susbsitence hunting.

FEMA officials arrive in Juneau to assess flood damage
Due to recent flooding, FEMA assessors will work with state, local and tribal officials to determine if federal aid is warranted with flood and erosion damage.

Sunflower stars take center stage in kelp research
A decline in the population of sea otters, a well-known predator of urchins and other kelp-eating critters, led to the spread of “urchin barrens” along the Pacific coast, where urchins have mowed down entire kelp forests. Now, researchers are trying to figure out if, and how, other predators such as sunflower stars could play a complementary role in protecting the kelp forests.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

New Sitka research could help berry pickers adjust to climate change
In Southeast Alaska, and across the state, climate change is bringing more rainfall, less winter snowfall and hotter temperatures. According to the project’s lead researcher Alex McCarrel, those changes disrupt berry development because a berry plant’s life cycle is precisely tuned to its environment.

State opens Kuskokwim River commercial fishing to 1 person
Commercial fishing openers are only available to individuals registered as catcher/sellers. On the Kuskokwim, the only one registered is Fran Reich.

Residents, engineers and scientists discuss permafrost thaw
The Permafrost and Infrastructure Symposium this month brought together over 50 scientists, engineers and residents this month, creating a space for them to exchange their perspectives on the effects of thawing permafrost in the Arctic.

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.

NOAA increases reward to $20K for information on endangered sea lion killings
So far, 22 sea lions have been found, with signs of human interaction, including gunshot wounds.
Seward, Alaska, United States

N.W.T. man recounts nightmarish escape from wildfire — and how a Hay River man saved his life
A Fort Smith, N.W.T., man is recounting his terrifying effort to flee a wildfire with his wife a couple of weeks ago — and crediting a Hay River man for steering them out of danger.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada

How the Maui wildfires devastated Lahaina, hour by hour
Survivors of the Maui fire in Lahaina say they were overwhelmed by the speed of the blaze, the smothering smoke and the lack of escape routes.
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States

Does monkshood, a purple flower that grows abundantly in Alaska, pose a danger to hikers and gardeners?
Monkshood, a common yet highly poisonous plant in Alaska, has seen an unusual bloom this year, raising concerns about its safety among hikers and gardeners. Experts affirm that while the plant is toxic, casual contact is unlikely to cause harm.

Wildfires in the Interior, potential drought in Southeast as record heat drags into August
There are now 140 active Interior wildfires, with Southeast Alaska seeing "abnormally dry" conditions.

Juneau’s worst glacial outburst flood destroys homes and displaces residents
“We started seeing structural timber,” one resident said. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, my God. That’s from houses upstream.'”

Alaska geologists dig into Bering Sea’s past storms to understand future ones
Extreme weather events like Typhoon Merbok are becoming more common, and many Alaska communities are wondering about the future.
Bering Sea

Secrets of the Lorino cliff
Scientists from Moscow State University have studied the Lorino cliff in the Chukotka region and discovered that the rapid retreat of the coast is due to the reduction of sea ice, and they recommend that villagers prepare for the transfer of coastal structures further inland.
Lorino, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Fish were plentiful, but fishermen scarce for Southeast Alaska’s first summer king opening
Southeast trollers brought in about 85,000 king salmon from July 1 to July 12, around 8,000 fish over the target for the first opener of the season. Nevertheless, the fishing was pretty good for the 500 boats that stayed in the game. Hagerman says three days of bad weather during the opener meant for some busy days during good conditions. A lot of the work involved shaking undersize kings, which were below the legal length of 28-inches, and trying to keep hooks free for bigger fish.
Southeast Alaska

Residents in Fort Smith, N.W.T., seeing more bears in town this year
Some residents in Fort Smith, N.W.T., say they're seeing more bears in and around town this year, and it's not clear why.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada

Environmental activists work to reconnect Yukon villages with salmon amid subsistence restrictions
Amid the collapse of chum and chinook salmon on the river, the Smokehouse Collective is trying to build sustainable, resilient food systems for Native communities.
Yukon River, Alaska

Alarming, above-average ice loss in Greenland due to rising temperatures
Satellite images from NASA show the alarming and above-average ice loss in Greenland due to rising temperatures, with significant melting and a transformation of the snow cover observed during the 2023 melting season.
Greenland

Harmful algal bloom monitoring gets underway
The R/V Sikuliaq is a familiar sight in the Port of Nome. The ice-breaking research vessel is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This year, while the vessel is out at sea it will be collecting water that could signal whether a bloom is occurring.

How whale poo could be making the planet cleaner
The "whale pump hypothesis" claims nutrient-rich whale excrement feeds phytoplankton, a key producer of Earth's oxygen.

It’s so hot in Arizona, doctors are treating a spike of patients who were burned by falling on the ground
The temperature of asphalt and pavement and concrete and sidewalks in Arizona on a warm sunny day or summer afternoon is 180 degrees sometimes.
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
CNN

North Slope authorities urge inclusion of Iñupiat in wildlife management
North Slope experts think Indigenous experts should take the lead on wildlife management. When it comes to belugas, caribou and ice seals, managing agencies and researchers are often in charge of setting hunting regulations and analyzing the animals.

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.

Sitka-based tour company is asking visitors to consider the cost of their emissions
Electric heat pumps help homeowners swap fossil fuel for renewable energy. To spread heat pumps across the region, Allen Marine is collecting small donations from thousands of visitors that pass through Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan on their whale watching and glacier tours each year.

As record heat bakes the Lower 48, Anchorage contends with its coolest summer in years
Anchorage is cool and wet this summer as the rest of the world bakes in the sun and heat.

'I'm definitely worried': Wildfire smoke means Yellowknife's air quality among worst in Canada
Clean, fresh air can be part of the draw for tourists to Canada's North — but they won't find it this week in Yellowknife due to wildfire smoke.

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

Kodiak resident dies in hit-and-run during Saturday’s tsunami evacuation
A Kodiak woman died in a hit-and-run collision during Saturday’s tsunami warning and evacuation,
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Hot, dry N.W.T. weather keeping the mosquitoes down or for now
An entomologist who works with the N.W.T. government said mosquito populations throughout the territory are lower than average. That’s because most types of mosquitoes "love water," and conditions in parts of the territory have been hot and dry instead.

Wildfire smoke, extreme heat continue to steamroll N.W.T. communities
Wildfire smoke has been blasting much of the N.W.T. lately, with air quality advisories in nearly every community Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, much of the territory is also coping with record-breaking heat.
Northwest Territories, Canada

Sen. Murkowski visits Pilgrim Hot Springs, Graphite One site
Graphite One is developing a plan for an open-pit graphite mine and is still in its exploration phase.

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

Bag upon bag of dead bird in Vadsø: 1000 seagulls were retrieved on Monday
No one knows how many birds are infected with avian influenza along the coast of Finnmark. In Vadsø, seagulls sit next to dozens of dead birds.
Vadsø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
Sarah Yoder, Bob Gerlach, Andrew Ramey, Lars Flora

Southwestern Alaska is having its cloudiest summer in 30 years, climatologists say
A low-pressure front that’s stuck over the southern part of the Bering Sea has formed clouds, which the jet stream carries east into southern Alaska.
Southwest Alaska

Smoke from Canada wildfires reaches Southeast Alaska
People in Southeast Alaska are starting to see smoke from Canada's record-breaking wildfire season — and there’s more to come. The air quality levels are still fair: hovering around 17, on a scale that goes up to 300.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States

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

Veterans who Served on Contaminated Alaskan Bases Faced Similar Health Hazards to Camp Lejeune
For countless US veterans, the Army’s mismanagement and careless disposal of hazardous substances since the early years of the Cold War have been an enduring source of debilitating and fatal consequences. Notorious instances such as the pervasive contamination at Camp Lejeune, where toxins leached into groundwater for over 30 years.
Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States
Alaska Native News

When Alaska wilderness adventures go wrong, mental mistakes are sometimes to blame
Adventures go wrong whether through failures of gear or navigation, not to mention the unpredictable weather and large, wild animals. Adventurers can make thinking errors that, in some cases, make an uncomfortable situation much worse.

Invasive slug species in Girdwood may be on the move; experts ask public for help tracking
An invasive species of mollusks, typically found in Southeast Alaska and established in Girdwood in 2015, have been reported in the Anchorage Bowl this year. “The European black slug is not necessarily new to Alaska,” Slowik said. “It was introduced into Cordova about the 1980s and it really stayed there for a long time.”
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Covid-19 spread between humans and deer, study shows, raising concerns about animal reservoirs
People spread Covid-19 to wild white-tailed deer more than 100 times in late 2021 and early 2022. The infection circulated widely in the deer population in the United States, and in at least three instances, researchers suspect the virus was passed between deer where it picked up unique genetic changes and then re-infected humans.

'Seeing is believing': VR project immerses viewers in climate change on Yukon's Herschel Island
The virtual reality project Qikiqtaruk: Arctic at Risk is transporting people to Yukon's northernmost point without them ever having to leave home.
Herschel Island, Canada

Keeping cans and computers out of the landfill: Dillingham's recycling initiatives
The Friends of the Landfill works with community partners to recycle aluminum cans and tech waste.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Québec funds research to adapt Nunavik public housing to thawing permafrost
The Quebec government has allocated over $2 million to research and develop a plan to adapt public housing in Nunavik to the effects of thawing permafrost, which can cause damage to units built on jacks.
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada

83,000 Hawaii homes dispose of sewage in cesspools. Rising sea levels will make the mess worse.
This rural part of the island of Oahu is not connected to city sewers — and waste from toilets, sinks and showers is mostly collected in hundreds of pits called cesspools. Rising seas are also pushing groundwater closer to the surface, allowing cesspool effluent to mix with the water table and flow into the ocean.
Waialua, Hawaii, United States

The Arctic Climatologist Calling Attention to a Looming Data Crisis
Rick Thoman is thinking hard about the cost of climate change and the benefits of better tracking, potentially influencing Alaska’s response to extreme weather and more.

U.S. Forest Service awards grants to boost Tongass logging
The two Alaska grants are aimed at retooling mills to harvest young growth timber in the Tongass National Forest rather than old growth.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States

Retreating Arctic glaciers leave bubbling methane in their wake, scientists warn
Scientists found that the glaciers are triggering the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that causes global temperatures to rise.
Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Polish scientists probe possible food-chain link to H5N1 avian flu in cats
Scientists say they found the virus in one of five submitted chicken meat samples that the cats ate.
Poland

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.

Urban Alaska can learn from energy innovation in rural Alaska
The state’s rural areas lead the world in renewably powered microgrids. So if the grid of the future is being incubated in rural Alaska, can urban Alaska, like the Railbelt, benefit from some of these strategies and lessons learned?

PAWS of Nome seeks funding for bark park, wildlife fencing
With recent events between Musk ox, humans, and dogs, Nome looks for solutions to mitigate the problem. As they graze on patches of grass, often within city limits, the potential for dog conflict and even human interactions are becoming common.

Heat waves like the one that's killed 14 in the southern US are becoming more frequent and enduring
Heat waves like the one that engulfed parts of parts of the South and Midwest and killed more than a dozen people are becoming more common.
Southern States, United States

By breeding like crazy, voles underpin wildlife food chain in Alaska
Voles breed like crazy. They can have three or four litters of six to eight kits each summer. Babies are born hairless, but are weaned and on their own in less than three weeks. Females are ready to breed at 30 days.

Mountains frozen for thousands of years are collapsing as global temperatures rise
Scientists say that rising global temperatures are causing collapsing mountains as ancient permafrost begins to thaw.
Brienz, Bern, Switzerland
BGR

Fallout of French nuclear testing in Pacific still affecting men decades later
Kiwi crews exposed to radiation at Mururoa Atoll hold concerns for subsequent generations.
French Polynesia
NZ Herald

Global heat waves show climate change and El Niño are a bad combo
Scientists say worsening heat waves have a clear link to climate change. This year, a seasonal El Niño pattern will also be adding fuel to the fire.
Pacific Ocean

Cook Inlet beluga whale population stabilizes
Beluga whales in Cook Inlet have been in a long period of decline, about two percent a year. But a new population count points to a reversal. The latest numbers have led researchers to declare the population stable for the first time in decades.
KNBA

'Alaska Weather' show will halt TV broadcast in July, raising concerns among many rural Alaskans
A long-running television show, "Alaska Weather" unique to Alaska that provides detailed weather, aviation and marine forecasts across the state will stop airing at the end of June. Especially in rural communities where many residents rely on the show for weather and safety information that's vital to coordinating flights and planning subsistence hunts or commercial fishing trips.

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

Borough wood stove change-out program continues
As the Fairbanks North Star Borough continues to tweak plans to improve air quality in its nonattainment zone, its wood stove change-out program continues to grow.

Dunleavy again vetoes research project on salmon bycatch
$513,000 was vetoed in state budget that would have looked into the origin of salmon caught by the Bering Sea pollock fleet.

Bristol Bay sportfishing regulations change, in response to concerns over king salmon decline
As king salmon decline in the Bristol Bay region, changes to king salmon harvest include reduced bag limits, area closures, as well as the introduction of youth-only fisheries in the Naknek River.
Bristol Bay, Alaska

Scientist warns of heightened PSP toxins' impact on Yukon salmon
Knik Tribe officials have found very high levels of the toxin which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning in samples from Southern Alaska mussels and clams — but they warn that parts of some fish, including king salmon, may also contain the toxin

In 'major victory' for Southeast Alaska trollers, federal appeals panel reverses fishery closure
A federal appeals panel issued a last-second ruling Wednesday that will allow this summer’s Southeast Alaska troll chinook salmon fishery to open as scheduled July 1.

BLM to restore water quality, fish habitat along Upper Yukon River
The Bureau of Land Management, in partnership with the Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District and Trout Unlimited, are restoring mining-impacted streams along the upper Yukon River watershed. Projects will improve water quality and fish habitat along Nome and Wade Creeks.
Yukon, Alaska, United States
Alaska Native News

Ongoing internet outage hamstrings 911, other vital services in Northwest Alaska
It’s been a week since ice severed a fiber optic cable in the Arctic Ocean, cutting communications to several Northwest Alaska communities.

How to Siifish: Traditional Knowledge from the Northwest Arctic
This film is for young people and anyone in the Northwest Arctic who is curious about how (and why) to siifish, and how to process the fish after catching.
YouTube

Drought and rising heat bring unusual wildfire warnings in Northern Europe
Northern Europe is experiencing an unusual heat wave and drought, making the region more vulnerable to forest fires, with firefighters battling wildfires in Portugal, Spain, Croatia, and southern France, and temperatures expected to hit 86 degrees Fahrenheit in Finland, rare for a country straddling the Arctic Circle.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Los Angeles Times

How they save the kelp forest in the north – from "sea urchin desert" to the sea's nursery
During the 1970's much of the Norwegian coastline was overfished. In the past, a kelp forest provided shelter and food for local sealife. Today, the seabed, along the Norwegian coastline is a sea urchin desert. Researchers, volunteers, and the "Kelp Keepers" in Tromso, are removing the sea urchins and rebuilding the kelp forest.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway

World breaks average temperature record for early June
"Global-mean surface air temperatures for the first days of June 2023 were the highest in the ERA5 data record for early June by a substantial margin", said Copernicus. Some of the unit's data goes back as far as 1950.
Le Monde.fr

EPA has new rules for oil spill dispersants
Dispersants may break up an oil slick, sparing some birds and wildlife at the surface, but may increase the oil contamination for species that live lower in the water column. The toxicity of dispersants themselves is also a concern for cleanup workers and other wildlife. A group of Alaskans filed a lawsuit in 2020 to force the EPA to rewrite the rules to take into account research on the long-term effects of dispersants in Prince William Sound and elsewhere.
Valdez, Alaska, United States

Invasive pike can use Cook Inlet to travel between freshwater systems, research finds
Now, for the first time, researchers have concrete evidence that northern pike could use the ocean to move between freshwater Alaska habitats.
Soldotna, Alaska, United States

Want to help Alaska biologists log migratory fish? There's an app for that.
Biologists and others are hoping that a new phone app will encourage Alaskans to help map fish species living in the state's rivers and streams.

Indigenous communities in B.C., Alaska, declare state of emergency over Pacific salmon
A group of Indigenous communities from Alaska and B.C. has declared a state of emergency related to Pacific salmon populations, and says First Nations need to be more involved in managing traditional resources.

Contaminated soil from Pond Inlet diesel spill to stay put
A diesel spill in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, resulted in 7,000 litres leaking from a damaged pipeline, with some contaminated soil left in place to maintain structural integrity.
Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

As ticks gain ground in Alaska, researchers say health risk remains low for now
Those studying ticks in Alaska currently are more concerned about non-native ticks hitching a ride on pets that arrive in the state from Outside, and infecting wildlife here.

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

Salmon are disappearing on the Yukon and Kuskokwim. Here’s what to know about the crisis this summer.
Chinook (king) and chum are the major salmon species on the Yukon and Kuskokwim. They’ve been at historically low numbers in both rivers for years. The coho (silver) returns have also dropped.This will be the fourth year subsistence fishing has been closed or severely restricted on both rivers. The region is bracing for another dismal subsistence harvest.

Ancient Indigenous 'clam gardens' could be modern-day climate solution
For close to four millennia, "clam gardens" on beaches on the west coast of B.C. have provided First Nations with a supply of not just clams but other types of seafood. Scientific experimentation by researchers from Simon Fraser University, in collaboration with Coastal Salish First Nations, indicates clam gardens help sea life stay cooler. The research aims to show how ancient Indigenous practices offer a modern-day solution to coping with climate change.
Russell Island,, British Columbia, Canada

Avian influenza has returned to Alaska, and so have health advisories
The highly pathogenic disease circling the globe stands out for its effects on wild birds, and experts say Alaskans should be on the lookout for cases.

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.

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

Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2030s, say scientists
The Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by the 2030s, even if we do a good job of reducing emissions between now and then.

Alaska's spring was colder than average, while other places baked (so, yes, global warming is still a thing)
Lingering snow and cloudy days resulted in temperatures about 3.5 degrees below the statewide average from March through May.

A large fish that fills freezers in Northwest Alaska could be in danger
Following a thaw slump, the water becomes cloudy and full of sediment, potentially suffocating the eggs of spawning sheefish. Scientists are concerned that permafrost thaw could lead to declines in the sheefish population, a staple food for many Alaskans.

COVID vaccination effective in protecting vulnerable Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, study says
A study by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp and the CDC found that COVID vaccination was 92% effective in preventing hospitalizations and extremely effective at preventing symptomatic cases among the mostly Yupik residents of the region, with booster shots restoring protection against symptomatic cases.

Tiny but tenacious: arctic-alpine plants are engineers and warning bells
When most people consider the arctic, or high-altitude mountain landscapes, they think of endless snow, ice and bare rock. But pastel-coloured flowers, sometimes just a few millimetres wide, bloom in these dramatic places too. The miniature flowers not only weather some of the toughest habitats on Earth, but can also help engineer the landscape for other species.

As Arctic warms, female arctic ground squirrels end hibernation before males – a mismatch with consequences
As Alaskan permafrost warms, hibernating arctic ground squirrels generate less heat, causing females to emerge from hibernation up to 10 days before their male counterparts – a mismatch that could have large, cascading ecological impacts. While reduced thermogenesis due to warming temperatures could allow the squirrels to conserve energy and, thus, increase winter survival, a shortened hibernation season could also increase the exposure of the animals to hungry predators, altering mortality rates, particularly for earlier emerging female squirrels. The phenological mismatch between the sexes may also disrupt reproductive rates. And over longer time scales, continued warming in the Arctic may lead to changes in male squirrel seasonal behaviors, say the authors.
EurekAlert!

Homer police take Grubby the opossum into custody
Homer police confirmed the Wednesday capture of the “wanted fugitive and somewhat local celebrity," otherwise known as an invasive species.

Replaced artificial turf a year ago – the environmentally damaging knobs are still here
Tromsø IL thought the municipality would reuse the deck. Now they will probably have to pay over a million kroner to have it removed.
Troms, Norway

High risk of wildfires in many parts of Sweden
The risk of wildfires is biggest locally in Skåne, Gotland and eastern parts of southern and central Sweden.Inland in the far north of Norrland is also ...
Haninge, Stockholm, Sweden

More than half of the world's largest lakes are shrinking. Here's why that matters
Researchers found the global decline in water storage was equivalent to 17 Lake Meads — the largest reservoir in the U.S.
Lake Mead, Nevada

Puffin Population Declining More Rapidly than Previously Believed
The Icelandic puffin population has shrunk by 70% in the last thirty years. The Managing Director of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF) has stated that this is bad news for the ecosystem and for companies within the tourist sector, who have marketed the puffin as a kind of national symbol. Decline much worse than […]

Rare tropical permafrost near Mauna Kea’s summit diminishing, researchers find
Rare tropical permafrost near Mauna Kea's summit is diminishing, with frozen soil patches showing signs of shrinking over time, according to researchers, who suggest there is no lasting way to prevent it from melting.
Manua Kea Volcano

Bering Sea 2019 heatwave produced extreme change
The Bering Sea region is front and center for federal fisheries researchers after the 2019 heatwave produced extreme change in the marine ecosystem.
Bering Sea Region

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

Alaska Senate passes bill to create carbon credits for preserved forest land
The bill, which got unanimous approval, seeks to help Alaska earn money by allowing its tree-covered tracts to continue absorbing carbon dioxide.

In April, a record 8 people believed to be homeless died outside in Anchorage
But the data illustrates a circumstance both unseen and commonplace in Alaska’s biggest city: In April, unhoused people were found dead on a sidewalk, in a ditch, in a sleeping bag tucked in the corner of a parking lot, along the state’s busiest highway.

As migrating birds return to Alaska, state veterinarian warns of continued avian influenza threat
The threat to many species of wild birds and backyard poultry flocks is the same or greater than it was last year, said Dr. Bob Gerlach.

Alaska sends firefighters, air tanker to help with Alberta’s ‘unprecedented’ early wildfire season
“This is the first time that we’ve sent a crew to Canada in May,” said Lily Coyle with the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Alberta, Canada

19 cruise ships scheduled to visit Unalaska this season, with UVB 'optimistic' after several challenging years
After decrease tourism during the pandemic Unalaska prepares for summer tourism season and a way for the community to share the history, culture, and environmental stewardship of the Unangan people,

Microplastics: we've found startling quantities in the ice algae that are essential for all Arctic marine life
Arctic ice algae contain microplastics and the quantities were startling - a magnitude ten times higher than recorded in the surrounding water.

One gardener’s ambitious plan to plant half a million carrots is growing Kodiak’s local food movement
You could say Dave Jackson is Kodiak’s carrot kingpin. Carrots are one of the key vegetables in the gardening/farming practices in the archipelago's of Alaska

EPA proposes strictest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants
A rule unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency could force power plants to capture smokestack emissions using a technology that has long been promised but is not in widespread use in the U.S.

Dozens express frustration about idea to reduce caribou harvest
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Subsistence Management held the second public hearing on May 2 about the proposal to reduce the caribou harvest limit for resident hunters across the range of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd from five caribou per day to four caribou per year, only one of which may be a cow.
Northwest Arctic and North Slope, Alaska
Arctic Sounder

Ireland follows a global trend for increased whale and dolphin beachings
Ireland’s major contribution to the study of whales comes from an accidental stranding off the coast of Wexford.
Wexford, Ireland
The Irish Times

Why Arctic Fox are the brazen bullies of the North
Arctic Foxes are curious animals of the North and often will befriend humans and not be afraid. Often times they move into other fox areas and territory.
Kolguev Island, Barents Sea, Russia

This year’s El Niño weather pattern could mean more storms for southern Alaska
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has declared this year’s climate to be an El Niño year, based on Pacific Ocean conditions.
Pacific Ocean

Analysis: Fears mount for the Arctic as cooperation with Russia stalls
For nearly three decades, the Arctic Council has been a successful example of post-Cold War cooperation. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a freezing of relations; what risks do the breakdown of Arctic collaboration pose to the region?

A Chugiak trailer park under eviction notice lacks clean water and sits on contaminated land. Many residents are fighting to stay.
Tenants in the Forest Park trailer court say they have few, if any, affordable options. Some officials see a warning sign of a worsening housing crisis to come.
Chugiak, Alaska, United States

Drones could make Juneau’s avalanche monitoring faster and more precise
The new project with drone maker DJI will try to get a bigger picture than fieldwork trips with more frequent, automated drone flights.

OPINION: The end of an era for Alaska fishing may already be here
This summer, Kenai Peninsula beaches from Ninilchik to Kenai will be empty of setnets and buoys. Family-run commerial fishing businesses, a major economic force in the Cook Inlet region since territorial days, have been shut down and may not be coming back.

Alaska state agency gives preliminary approval to Valdez ski resort effort
Three Valdez residents behind the proposed ski area say a resort could provide year-round tourism opportunities as more cruise ships arrive and the oil industry declines.
Valdez, Alaska, United States

10 billion snow crabs disappeared from the Bering Sea. Scientists and fishermen are working to learn why.
Such a large, sudden die-off and a lack of sea ice were a red flag for scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Citizen observers help scientists predict breakup flooding
As Alaska faces an increased risk of spring breakup flooding this year, scientists are asking residents to share photos documenting major rivers’ progress from ice to water to help them predict with more accuracy where flooding might occur.
Tanana, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet mayor says work on water system to begin this summer
State officials say Unalakleet will see work to improve conditions on its water system in the near future.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Why disposable vapes are becoming an environmental liability
In this week's issue of our environment newsletter, we look at the ecological cost of disposable vapes.

A young Yup’ik climate advocate is committed to centering Indigenous knowledge in science
Charitie Ropati, 21, wants to reimagine scientific research to include her traditional values, like community and collective wellbeing.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Research spotlights the impact of climate change on Pacific salmon migration
Climate change is knocking some Pacific salmon out of alignment with the growth of the ocean plankton they eat to survive, new research says.
British Columbia

China puts pressure on more mining in Norway
As of today, China controls 98 percent of the rare earths that Europe needs for the green shift. Høgre writes that the Fens field has "the greatest potential to break the Chinese dependence"
Skien, Telemark, Norway

Rabies in Alaska bats is very rare, but caution is warranted, state medical experts say
State officials say Alaskans who encounter bats should avoid any physical contact. The state's last rabid bat was found last June near Juneau.

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

Research shows a significant increase in rabid red foxes around Nome
Of the 61 red foxes counted in and around Nome between February and March 2023, nearly one quarter were positive.

Fears trouble if Norway try to advertise whale meat abroad
The whaling industry and whale experts believe Norway must promote whale meat. The Minister of Fisheries fears that this could ruin the sale of other Norwegian seafood.

Fears that thousands of solar panels will ruin the view
Today, they can look out over spruce forests and fields. But where the forest stands, there can be a solar power plant the size of 80 football fields.

World's biggest cumulative logjam mapped in the N.W.T. and it stores tons of carbon
If added altogether, deposits of wood across the Mackenzie River Delta would cover a third of Yellowknife. Researchers calculated how much carbon it stores — which is at risk of entering the atmosphere more quickly as the climate changes.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

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

As rural communities prepare for climate change, a UAA scientist is trying to connect them with data
Dr. Micah Hahn received an EPA grant to make air quality and health data easier to access in rural Alaska.

Pet owners advised to keep dogs and cats away from dead birds
With geese and other wild birds returning to the region every day, New Brunswick dog and cat owners should be aware of the risk of avian influenza, says the registrar of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association.
New Brunswick, Canada

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.

As migratory birds return, so does potential for avian flu outbreaks
State veterinarian Dr. Robert Gerlach said the virus never left Alaska in the winter months, and has spread beyond the local bird population.

'Whale is the center of everything'
On the north slope, the whale brings together and sustains life for everyone. "We have a bond with the animals. They fed us, they clothed us, they sheltered us since time immemorial. Without them, we wouldn't survive the Arctic."

Alaska had a quieter year for earthquakes in 2022, new report says
Last year, over 47,000 earthquakes were recorded in Alaska and nearby regions, a slight decrease in seismic activity compared to recent years.

Haaland defends Alaska's Willow project, says U.S. won’t end oil drilling
“We’re not going to say we’re not going to use gas and oil. That’s not reality,″ Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said Friday.
Nuiqsut, alaska

Stoney Nakoda Nations elders, knowledge keepers share traditional ways to respect bears
Many hikers in Southern Alberta head to the trails in spring equipped with bear spray, singing or saying hey bear, woah bear, to warn the animal they're around the corner. Elders and knowledge keepers from Stoney Nakoda Nations have their own approach, and lessons to share when it comes to co-existence.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Wild reindeer committee wants to remove musk ox from Dovrefjell
The musk oxen attract a lot of tourists, and generate a lot of traffic into reindeer areas.
Snøhetta, Norway

The insects of Lynn Canal are coming out
A caddisfly was reportedly seen circling a Haines light bulb. A large mosquito was observed landing on a pile of wood. Armstrong says nowadays he sees fewer insects than in past years. Studies around the world confirm this observation.
Lynn Canal, Haines, Alaska, United States

How will climate change affect Arctic agriculture?
“Warmer and wetter winters shorten the winter season and prolong the growing season, which give rise to new opportunities. Among other things, this includes higher annual yield with several harvests, along with the possibility to grow new, more productive crop varieties and species,” says Dr Sigridur Dalmannsdottir at NIBIO.

Antibiotic-resistant microbes lurk in poop of Anchorage moose, UAA research finds
The big animals that roam Alaska’s largest city are carrying bacteria that cannot be killed by commonly used medicines.

How melting Arctic ice could be fueling extreme wildfires in Alaska
As Western wildfires get more destructive, scientists are finding a far-off connection to shrinking ice on the Arctic Ocean.

Evolution of H3 avian influenza virus in China: Implications for pandemic preparedness
This paper analyzes the evolution of the H3 subtype of avian influenza virus in China from 2009 to 2022, including its spatial and temporal distribution and genetic changes. The findings have implications for pandemic preparedness.
China
News-Medical.net

Amendment Not Sufficient to Encourage Tuna Fishing
Efforts to encourage Icelandic fisheries to make use of Atlantic bluefin tuna catch quotas allotted to Iceland have yet to prove fruitful. While tuna goes for high prices, specialised ships are necessary to make tuna fishing profitable. Chartering foreign boats to develop tuna fishing experience within the Icelandic fishing industry would require authorisation from the […]

Climate change thaws world's northernmost research station
At the world’s northernmost year-round research station, scientists are racing to understand how the fastest-warming place on Earth is changing — and what those changes may mean for the planet’s future.
Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

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.

Analyzing the fat of killer whales reveals what they eat
Scientists are studying the diets of the oceans’ top predators as they change in response to their environments. This is because how much and what they eat can affect how ecosystems function.

Will heavy snow cover dampen Alaska’s fire season? Experts say don’t count on it.
Alaska fire officials brace for hotter, more intense fire seasons to come.

Climate change is impacting bird migration patterns. Here's what we know
Climate change is affecting all aspects of our land, and also what flies in our sky. Bird migration is changing as average temperatures rise. So what does that mean for our bird species?

Positive tests for tick-borne illness in N.S. dogs up sharply, says vet
The number of dogs testing positive for tick-borne illnesses has nearly doubled this year, says a Nova Scotia veterinarian. Jeff Goodall, the owner and a veterinarian at Sunnyview Animal Care, said the problems go beyond Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis is also a concern. He said dogs have been testing positive for tick-borne illnesses throughout the winter.
Nova Scotia, Canada

2022 Bering Sea algal bloom was one of the largest, most toxic ever observed nationwide
Last July, researchers detected high concentrations of a toxin-producing algae offshore in the Bering Strait region.
Bering Straits

What is Iceland's Energy Mix?
Historically of all stationary energy produced in Iceland, some 70% is hydroelectric and 30% is geothermal. In figures recently released on 2021 energy usage in Iceland, it has come to light that 63% of energy used in Iceland was produced by fossil fuel, 24% by nuclear power, and only 13% by renewable energy sources.

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

Thousands of seals to be hunted — to protect fisheries
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has allowed for 1,500 grey seals to be hunted in the Baltic Sea and 630 harbour seals on the west coast.

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

China records first H3N8 bird flu death, WHO says
Three cases of H3N8 detected in China since 2022 as WHO says strain doesn’t appear to spread easily between humans. First case resulting in death occurred in China.
Dongguan, Guangdong, China
the Guardian

Bringing human, animal and environmental health together: One Health in practice across the WHO European Region
From a scourge and an enemy to be beaten, to a wake-up call and an opportunity to build back better, the COVID-19 pandemic has been called many things. Those working in the public health, animal health, and environment sectors agree on this: As we build back better post-pandemic, we must step up One Health efforts to better prepare for and respond to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases.
Genève, Geneva, Switzerland

Western Alaska chum bycatch limits are moving forward — slowly
Potential new limits on the accidental catch of chum salmon by pollock trawlers are still years away from being implemented.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States

One Health for One Planet: Ecocentric Policy for Personal and Planetary Wellbeing
The American Veterinary Medical Association has a plan to control the transmission of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 from animals to humans. To succeed — and to thrive — we need to renegotiate our relationship with all other species.
California, United States
KCET

At least 16 roof failures reported, and winter isn’t over yet
Anchorage municipal officials say at least 16 roofs have buckled in the city this winter under heavy snow and ice, and they’re wary of additional collapses after another storm dropped more snow this weekend.

Adaptive monitoring of the arctic fox in the Norwegian low Arctic
Arctic species are currently under multiple pressures and several are red-listed. Adaptive ecosystem-based monitoring and management applied to the critically endangered arctic fox in Finnmark, illustrates how such pressures can be uncovered and potentially mitigated.
Finnmark, Norway

Canadian experts decry continuation of Alaska study on parasite afflicting Yukon River chinook salmon
Alaska researchers will continue a controversial study this year on a parasite in Yukon River chinook salmon that requires killing hundreds of fish, a move that’s drawn sharp criticism from Canadian experts.

Fish hatcheries, long seen as a last resort, get a new look amid Yukon River salmon crisis
First Nations groups in the Yukon Territory and Alaska GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration are advancing discussions about whether hatcheries could help stem a steep crash in salmon populations on the Yukon River.

The birds are back in town. Spring migration could fuel spread, evolution of avian flu, scientists warn
Across Canada, an estimated seven million birds and counting have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza during a devastating global outbreak that shows no signs of winding down. Now, as millions more migrate north, scientists warn it’s yet another opportunity for this virus to spread and evolve.

The Bering Sea’s smallest organisms are losing fat, putting larger predators at risk
Large, high-fat copepods — distantly related to shrimp and crab — are dwindling and loosing fat with the lack of sea ice from global warming.

A Homer scientist is bringing changes in Arctic permafrost into high-resolution
With Arctic permafrost thaw rapidly outpacing projections, researchers are racing to understand the impacts of an increasingly unstable future.

Alaska gets $38M federal grant for climate-related housing disaster recovery
The State of Alaska recently received $38 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ease the burden of climate change. The money was made available through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. These funds are aimed at helping communities better rebound from presidentially declared disasters, but Salazar says the state will be allowed to allocate the new funds for preventative measures.

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.

Y-K Delta women describe the realities of living with climate change for foreign dignitaries
The relocation between from Newtok to Mertavik has taken time and community members stay patient as local, state, and federal agencies figure out the complex funding and logistical hurdles.
Newtok, Alaska, United States

Hawaii's lawmakers mull imposing fees to pay for ecotourism crush
Taking care of Hawaii's unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it.
Hawaii, United States

Alaska marine debris experts call for tighter regulation and more cleanup funding
Coordinating teams to collect and sort marine debris, plus shipping it to a landfill or recycling center is an expensive logistical nightmare as Alaska waters increase with marine debris.

Sea ice loss affects biodiversity, economy and travel safety, hunters and scientists say during a conference
"Siku" means sea ice in the Siberian Yup'ik language. But about a hundred other Yup'ik words describe different types of sea ice, including icebergs, floating pressure ice ridges, solid ice safe for travel — and "pequ," "an unsuitable area in ice field where the current causes ice to heave up or break up," Vera Metcalf said.
Alaska

Hunting, visual storytelling and loss: Utqiaġvik photographer speaks at the Arctic at youth panel
Story telling provides a powerful tool in a changing climate. Epen Hobson has been experiencing the land and ocean through the perspective of an Inuit photographer and hunter. A recipient of the Arctic Resilient Communities Fellowship he shares, "We're an oral people, we tell stories, we teach by telling stories," The effects of climate change are concrete and dramatic for the Arctic communities such as Utqiagvik, and Hopson is hungry to see infrastructure and policy solutions to address them.

Forskarar may have solved the mystery of birds at Svarthamaren
All the birds were gone. Now there is full life in the bird cliffs again. The researchers believe they have found the explanation for the mystery.
Antarctica

University of Saskatchewan researchers intensify efforts to track disease in caribou
Researchers will be stepping up their efforts to track chronic wasting disease in Saskatchewan's north.
Saskatchewan, Canada

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

How do you keep migrating birds off a giant toxic lake?
Engineers struggled to keep snow geese away from Montana’s deadly Superfund site, but ecologists have a new plan.
Montana, United States

Alaska’s annual tsunami warning test failed for some communities
Wednesday was the annual test of Alaska’s tsunami warning system — but Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Sitka and Unalaska didn't hear it at all.

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

Water crisis in Catalonia
The region of Catalonia, northeastern Spain, is in its worst drought since measurements began. The sheep reservoir supplies water to the city of Barcelona.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Strong regional commitment to One Health approach in Central Asia
Five Central Asian countries have jointly confirmed their interest to mitigate the risk of zoonosis emergence in the region by enhancing overall landscape resilience through the One Health approach.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
IUCN

California's 'phantom lake' returns with a vengeance, unearthing a bitter history of water
The 'phantom' Tulare Lake once the biggest lake west of the Mississippi and drained for agriculture purposes is slowly reemerging.
Stratford, California, United States
Los Angeles Times

Nunavut flips stance on caribou protection again, now supports development ban on calving grounds
The government of Nunavut has once again flipped its position on resource development on caribou calving grounds, now supporting a "prohibition of development within calving grounds and key access corridors, with seasonal restrictions on activities in post-calving grounds."
Nunavut, Canada

Native knowledge of great lakes ecology: Climate changes to Odawa lands
Climate change has been observed for hundreds of years by the plant specialists of three Odawa Tribes in the Upper Great Lakes along Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the focus of two National Park Service (NPS) studies of Odawa Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of plants, ecosystems, and climate change. Data collected during these studies contributed to developing Plant Gathering Agreements between tribes and parks. This analysis derived from 95 ethnographic interviews conducted by University of Arizona (UofA) anthropologists in partnership with tribal appointed representatives. Odawa people recognized in the park 288 plants and five habitats of traditional and contemporary concern. Tribal representatives explained that 115 of these traditional plants and all five habitats are known from multigenerational eyewitness accounts to have been impacted by climate change. The TEK study thus represents what Native people know about the environment. These research findings are neither intended to test their TEK nor the findings of Western science.
Glen Arbor, Michigan, United States
Frontiers

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.

Artists fear proposed changes to Southeast Alaska sea otter hunting rules could threaten traditional craft
Only certain Alaska Native people can hunt sea otters. But as otter populations have grown, so have calls to loosen federal laws protecting them.

After the fatal polar bear attack in Wales, a collective approach to healing
Questions still linger about what caused the bear to kill a woman and her baby — but more important for Wales is the question of how to move on.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Uh-oh. A new tropical mosquito has come to Florida. The buzz it's creating isn't good
Scientists say climate change appears to be a factor making Florida and other parts of the U.S. welcoming to non-native mosquitoes.
Florida, United States

Cruise Ship Invasion
Take a typical Alaska cruise and see the damage in its wake. Waste-water disposal to on board garbage piles up leaking into the natural environment and local waste sites. Noise pollution from the ships impact whales and other species that rely on sounds for communication. Total visitors from the industry impact on small communities has pros and cons. The evidence is clear: the industry needs an overhaul.
Hakai Magazine

Vaccine makers prep bird flu shot for humans 'just in case' as rich nations lock in supplies
Some of the world's leading makers of flu vaccines say they could make hundreds of millions of bird flu shots for humans within months if a new strain of avian influenza ever jumps across the species divide.

A Devastating Toxin Is Bubbling Up From the Permafrost
Trapped in all that permafrost is an estimated 30 billion tons of carbon. It’s an unfathomable amount, Kirkwood says. With global warming, the permafrost is thawing, threatening to release a “carbon bomb” of heat-trapping methane gas into the atmosphere. But there’s something else lurking in the permafrost that has the potential to be more immediately dangerous to the people and wildlife living in the area: mercury.
The Atlantic

Here's the Real Story behind the Massive 'Blob' of Seaweed Heading toward Florida
A loose raft of brown seaweed spanning about twice the width of the U.S. is inching across the Caribbean. Among annual Sargassum censuses in the Atlantic Ocean, “2018 was the record year, and we’ve had several big years since,” says Brian Lapointe, an oceanographer at Florida Atlantic University, who has studied seaweed for decades. “This is the new normal, and we’re going to have to adapt to it.”
Palm Coast, Florida, United States
Scientific American

Murkowski, Peltola tell ComFish more needs to be done about ‘crisis’ levels of species decline
The lawmakers discussed the challenges faced by Alaska’s fishermen in a remote address to Kodiak’s annual commercial fishing trade show.
Kodiak, Alaska

This stubborn shrub is helping to keep Arctic river banks intact as permafrost thaws
A study published in Nature Climate Change examined how 10 big rivers in the Arctic had moved 50 years, and found they did not migrate as much as expected.

Snow is as high as ski lifts in California as drought abates
More than 700 inches of snow have fallen at Mammoth Mountain, almost burying entire houses and setting new record for snowfall. The snowfall in the Sierra Nevada range will help mitigate drought conditions in coming years.
Dollar Point, California, United States

Exceptional temperature increase in Arctic hotspot
The Barents area is the fastest warming place on the planet. A new study shows that the warming is happening twice as fast as previously thought.
Barents Sea

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

Bowhead whales are changing migration patterns in the Arctic
With ice declining, bowhead whales of the Pacific Arctic choose to stay longer in the waters up north. A change in migration patterns could affect the bowheads' health and safety, as well as the hunters' access to the subsistence resource.
Bering Straits

Increasing cases of avian influenza in people
The recent death of an 11-year-old girl in Cambodia's Prey Veng province infected with avian influenza has reinvigorated concern over the virus potentially gaining the ability to spread among humans. And while experts maintain the risk of that happening "remains low" at this time, the World Health Organization has said that increasing reports of avian influenza infection in humans are "worrying."
Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Mayo Clinic

Seaweed farming inspires high hopes in Alaska for economic and environmental benefits
Seen as a bright spot in a troubled coastal economy, seaweed cultivation must overcome many obstacles to become big business in Alaska.

'Whole hell of a lot of water up there': This map shows the Sierra snowpack's record levels
Atmospheric river boosted California's snowpack, especially in Central and Southern Sierra. Now the levels are record level creating safety issues such as roofs collapsing and helping with drought conditions across the western states.
Sierra Nevada, California, United States
San Francisco Chronicle

Anne Margrethe was sick from a tick bite: – Know how bad it can be
The Institute of Public Health is expanding the area where they recommend that people take the vaccine against the tick borne encephalitis.
Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Juneau's wastewater has four times as much COVID as the national average
This weekend marks the third anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the global pandemic — and Juneau’s wastewater is awash with COVID.

Researchers struggle to find out if windmills scare reindeer
A video of the reindeer on the steps of the wind turbine has caused wonder. Aren't the animals intimidated by wind power anyway? Here are some reasons why it is so difficult to find clear facts and secure figures.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway

Skjoma: Statkraft wants to make as much electricity as possible – now NVE recommends that they release more water
At times, the water level in the river Skjoma in Narvik is so low that the salmon freezes to death. But Statkraft has refused to release more water into the watercourse. Now the NVE intervenes.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway

Scientist explains how 'rain-on-snow' events can interact with California's snowpack
A scientist explains the interaction between "rain-on-snow" events and California's snowpack in Northern California.
Northern California, United States
KCRA Sacramento

School district closes 5 libraries due to snow load
Libraries at two Anchorage elementary schools — Klatt and Spring Hill — were closed after the maintenance department identified ceiling damage. The district also decided “out of an abundance of caution” to proactively close the libraries of Bear Valley Elementary, Fire Lake Elementary, and Ravenwood Elementary, which share the same building design with Klatt and Spring Hill.

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.

A decision looms on the Willow oil and gas project in Alaska's Arctic
Environmental and climate activists are rallying online against ConocoPhillips’ proposed Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska’s Arctic as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden weighs whether to greenlight the controversial plan.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Ice in the Baltic Sea reducing due to climate change
The Baltic Sea is experiencing a reduction in ice due to climate change, with this winter seeing significantly less ice compared to previous years.
Baltic Sea

Chronic wasting disease found in new deer species in Manitoba
Another species of deer has been detected suffering from chronic wasting disease in Manitoba according to the province.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Winnipeg

Students learn lessons on climate change, pollution through raising salmon
Although many Alaskan students are familiar with salmon fishing, raising them gives them a new perspective on writing, science, math and art.
Kenny Lake, Alaska, United States

Saanich invites volunteers to help battle invasive plants
A volunteer program in Saanich, B.C., is helping to beat back invasive species on the island.
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Vancouver Island

State shutters most Cook Inlet king salmon fishing this summer in unprecedented array of emergency closures
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced preseason fishing limits and closures Thursday as chinook numbers continue to decline. The closure also triggers commercial setnet shutdowns.
Cook Inlet, Alaska

Record-low quota caught as Bering Sea Tanner crab season wraps up
The fishing season has ended for Bering Sea Tanner crab. Crabbers caught the record-low quota of two million pounds just before the end of March. Nichols said the average size of the crab caught was smaller than in seasons past. That could be because buyers agreed to accept crab they would've previously turned away.

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

Residents of East Iceland told to be aware of ash eruption guidelines
In the last week, rapid ice melting on the crater lake (Öskjuvatn), usually frozen solid at this time of year, indicated significant geothermal energy being expended, and pointed to at least the increased possibility of an ash eruption at Askja.The police chief in East Iceland encourages people in the region to increase their awareness of a possible eruption of Askja and to familiarise themselves with instructions.
Askja

'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.

Highly venomous spiders still a problem for factory workers.
Highly venomous spiders native to Chile remain a worry for workers at a firm in Sandviken, near Gävle, several years after they were first discovered.

This season’s snowfall isn’t yet too heavy for the vast majority of Anchorage rooftops, experts say
Engineers caution that residents wanting to clear their own roofs face greater risk of hurting themselves or damaging roofs than from a collapse.

Earthquakes last longer and feel stronger in parts of Interior Alaska, research finds
Researchers found that the seismic waves get amplified as they bounce back and forth off the sides and bottom of the sedimentary basin near Minto. So people in the flats perceive the earthquakes as bigger than they actually are and it’s all about the reverberation.
Minto, 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

Subsistence in these days of climate change
There’s an old saying that captures the essence of subsistence harvesting: “When the tide is out, the table is set.” Clams, mussels and other food are available for the person. Climate change has impacted subsistence in the ocean and on the land. Community members share observations on changes.

A year after Russia invaded Ukraine, a walrus discovery is caught up in geopolitics
Russian and American scientists have been cut off from collaborating for a year, and Arctic research is suffering.
Cape Serdtse­-Kamen, Chukchi Sea, Russia

Old Tjikko stands on Fulufjellet, just a mile from the Norwegian border in Trysil
Old Tjikko is 9500 years old, one of the oldest fir tree in the world.
Trysil, Innlandet, Norway

Environmental groups urge feds to track flulike illnesses common among BP oil spill workers
The petition is the latest step in a long effort to better protect oil spill responders from a range of long- and short-term health problems suffered after BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in 2010 and other spills.
Gulf of Mexico

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

Trudeau says he ordered takedown of 'unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace'
Trudeau orders takedown of unidentified object in Canada airspace.
Yukon, Canada

No deer, no problem: Sea otters become main course for this Southeast Alaska wolf pack
The pack killed all the black-tailed deer on the island and another established pack back on the mainland was preventing their return. Scientists assumed they would die off from starvation.
Pleasant Island, Alaska, United States

B.C’s pink sea urchins are on the move to shallower waters thanks to climate change
Researchers at Memorial University, Ocean Networks Canada and the University of Victoria found the urchins, living as deep as 400 metres below, were expanding their populations into shallower water at an average rate of 3.5 metres per year as ocean warming reduces oxygen levels and food sources at lower depths.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Port Alberni Valley News

Diminished population of sunflower sea stars may get Endangered Species Act listing
The huge sea stars, which help conserve kelp beds by eating sea urchins, have been devastated by a wasting disease that is linked by scientists to climate change.

Polar bear in fatal Wales attack was in poor health
A polar bear that killed a young mother and her baby last month in western Alaska was likely an older animal in poor physical condition.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Crab crisis in Bering Sea a sign of ‘borealization’ and big changes in the future, scientists warn
In coming decades, the ocean conditions that triggered the snow crab crash and harvest closure are expected to be common.

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.

How will the Bering Strait respond to harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms will become a more common feature of a warming Arctic. Last summer, a massive bloom was detected off the coast of Western Alaska, almost by chance, when scientists sailing through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea found worryingly high levels of Alexandrium catenella.
Bering Strait

Beaver colonization around Nome is a ‘harbinger’ of Arctic changes
Research shows Beavers are relatively new to the Seward Peninsula and push farther north as climate change occurs.

Will 33-fold solar power in Norway in seven years
We (Norway) need to build solar power, at a pace we have not seen before, according to the Energy Commission. And the industry believes a 33-fold increase in seven years is realistic.

Warmest January in Norway’s northeast
East Finnmark region was 4 to 5 degrees warmer than normal in January.
Alta, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Company stopped the municipality's reindeer facility - sewage goes straight into the fjord
About 25 kg of sticky mass from a company entered the sewage system. Sewage goes into the sea from operating plant impacting fish and other sealife.
Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Forestry violates its own environmental rules – retains the green certificate
Time and time again, they have cut down forests that should not have been cut, according to a review made by NRK. Yet no company has lost its sustainability stamp.

Hogs are running wild in the U.S.—and spreading disease
The nation's six million feral pigs are destroying crops and preying on endangered species. But the most serious threat they pose is to human health.
Animals

EPA stops Alaska's Pebble mine with rarely used power
The decision caps a decades-long battle over a region that is home to both the world’s largest wild salmon run and one of the world’s largest deposits of copper and gold.
Pebble Mine Proposed Site

Gov. Dunleavy says his carbon storage bills could bring Alaska ‘billions,’ but many unknowns remain
Dunleavy administration’s proposals, which could take years to implement, highlights economic gains for the state for carbon offset and sequestration programs.

How Indigenous people are strengthening fur traditions in an anti-fur world
Despite the negativity toward using and selling fur, Indigenous people say fur can be a sustainable, respectful and even luxurious material for clothing, accessories and art.

Human behaviour needs to shift for coexistence with wildlife, say specialists
Vancouver Island is known for its predatory wildlife, such as black bears, coastal wolves and cougars. Many towns and villages sit in areas with high populations of predatory wildlife, making interactions with humans often inevitable, unless effective coexistence management is in place.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Wildlife talk about Yukon Flats recap
A wildlife biologist at Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge presented his findings after studying the kill-rate of moose by wolves in the Yukon Flats.
Yukon Flats, Alaska, United States

Student project tracking microplastics found in Bering Strait-area spotted seals
A UAF graduate student has found microplastics in the stomachs of spotted seals harvested in the Bering Strait region.

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.

'The ocean is their garden': Initiative aims to make whaling safer
Backyard Buoys project will give residents real time data such as wave height to whaling crews and communities throughout the North Slope. A system of buoys will be displaced across the slope this summer.
North Slope, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Local Alaska egg producers fill cracks during shortage
Local farms help provide eggs with statewide shortage during avian flu outbreak.
Soldotna, Alaska, United States

NOAA denies emergency request to close red king crab savings areas
Federal officials denied an emergency request to close crucial habitat for Bristol Bay red king crab to all commercial fishing.

More than $13 million in federal funding earmarked for Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay will receive 13 million in Federal Funding to help with projects such as safe drinking water.

There's a lot of talk about what we would gain from the Ambler Road. But what would we lose?
The potential impact on caribou and the way of life in Northwest Arctic if Ambler Mining District is opened.

Rare attack in Alaska renews interest in polar bear patrols
For isolated communities at the top of the world, keeping the planet’s largest land predators -- polar bears -- out of town is key to coexistence.
Wales, Alaska, United States
AP NEWS

Ice lies thick over Russian Arctic waters, but this winter might be record warm
Ship captains are battling with major volumes of sea-ice across the Russian far north. Temperature data show that the Arctic has almost never before been this hot.
Russian Arctic

Hard rain
Rain began to fall on the already snow-covered Yamal Peninsula, an Arctic region of northwest Siberia, in November 2013. Rain fell for the next 24 hours.  As rain saturated the snow, the temperature dropped below freezing, turning the precipitation into a thick, icy crust.
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Boulder Weekly

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

Alaska's cold climate 'luck' with three consecutive La Niña years is about to run out
National Weather Service says Alaska has been lucky to have three La Niña years. Due to climate change we could see a shift into warmer La and El Nino's.

More industry must be placed where power is produced
Mayors of power municipalities in Norway want new industry in the villages where electricity is produced, instead of sending it away to the city. Local power is very efficient.
Dalen, Telemark, Norway

Possible record year for arctic fox in Nordics with 762 cubs counted in 2022
The arctic fox population across the Nordic region has declined for decades, but recent data suggests cross-border cooperation between Finland, Norway and Sweden is helping turn things around. Arctic Fox dens and cub population is highest in all three countries.
Lapland, Finland

LKAB discovers large rare earth metals deposit in northern Sweden
The state-owned Swedish mining company LKAB says it has found a deposits containing more than one million tons of rare earth oxides near Kiruna in Northern Sweden.
Kiruna, Norrbotten, Sweden

Congress approves development of national One Health coordination plan, other veterinary funding priorities
Language supported by the AVMA in new legislation will coordinate federal activities aimed at combating zoonotic disease outbreaks. The measure was among other provisions relevant to animal health that Congress passed before the end of the 2022.
American Veterinary Medical Association

A real scramble: State suffers an egg shortage
Avian flu outbreak in Washington prompts cull of over 1 million eggs. This has led to a shortage of eggs in urbans areas such as Anchorage and rural communities in Alaska. The egg-shortage adds to the Covid-19 supply chain issues.

It's warmer than normal in many parts of the North — and it's going to stay that way for awhile
The Yukon, the N.W.T. and western Nunavut are experiencing above-average temperatures. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, it's going to stay that way for the month of January.

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.

Why Are Alaska's Rivers Turning Orange?
Streams in Alaska are turning orange with iron and sulfuric acid. Scientists are trying to figure out why
Kiana, Alaska, United States
Scientific American

In northernmost Alaska, a battle is on to limit the damages of permafrost thaw
Warming soils beneath Utqiagvik are triggering erosion that threatens homes, infrastructure and cultural resources. The North Slope has seen some of the fastest changes in coastal erosion in the nation.

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.

After 30 years in decline, Yukon's Finlayson caribou herd may be on the upswing, gov't says
For the first time in decades, Yukon's Finlayson caribou herd appears to be growing in number. That's according to recent population survey data from the territorial government.
Pelly Mountains, British Columbia

The hidden underwater forests that could help tackle the climate crisis
Underwater forests, such as kelp forests, have been found to cover a large area and have the potential to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, making them important in addressing the climate crisis, although more research is needed to understand their long-term carbon sequestration capabilities.
Bodega Bay, California, United States
the Guardian

Warming climate, wacky weather create skating trail trials and tribulations
Canada's outdoor skating on rivers and ponds is increasingly affected by warming winters due to climate change, resulting in unpredictable skating seasons.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Climate change seen as suspected factor in Western Arctic Caribou Herd decline
Alaska’s Western Arctic Caribou Herd population is lower than at any time in over four decades. Climate change is the leading cause of the decline in the herd.

Researchers discuss more salmon appearing in Arctic
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

In the district capital, the estuary did not freeze, in Pevek it warmed up to +4
Three temperature records this week were broken in Chukotka. Forecasters recorded abnormally high temperatures for this time of year in Pevek and Omolon.
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
prochukotku

An Unmistakable Stain in America’s Most Pristine Rivers
Dozens of once crystal-clear streams and rivers in Arctic Alaska are now running bright orange and cloudy, and, in some cases, they may be becoming more acidic. This otherwise undeveloped landscape now looks as if an industrial mine has been in operation for decades, and scientists want to know why.
Noatak River
The Atlantic

Ancient moose antlers hint of early arrival on Alaska's North Slope
The North Slope offers a marginal place for a moose because far fewer willow shrubs grow there than in the boreal forest. Moose are recent invaders of the North Slope due to climate warming and expanding willow growth.
North Slope, Alaska
Arctic Sounder

State downsizes bison hunt after a third of Delta herd starves to death
Alaska’s longest and most popular hunting season ended early this year. The Delta Junction bison hunt usually extends from October to March, but the state limited this year’s season to just two weeks, and only 50 animals were taken, because last winter’s heavy snow and ice buildup wiped out nearly a third of the Delta bison herd.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States
KUAC

Washing away
The Arctic hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., is collapsing into the ocean as it loses up to a meter of coastline each year. The people who live there are in a race against time to preserve their way of life — and their community — before it is washed away.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Garbage collection from the coast and tundra after the storm was completed in the village of Rytkuchi
Garbage and wood were removed by the municipal services of the village of Rytkuchi of the Pevek urban district from the coastline and tundra near the settlement. This was the final stage of a large-scale clean-up, which began in the summer after a strong storm.
Prochukotku

Dead bowheads in Beaufort and Chukchi point to increased killer whale presence in Arctic
There are new signs that killer whales, which are swimming farther north and staying for longer periods of the year in Arctic waters, are increasingly preying on Alaska’s bowhead whales. A newly published study found that 2019, an especially warm year in the region, also seems to have been an especially dangerous year for bowheads.

Dungeness crab summer harvest drops $10M from previous season
Some Southeast fishermen skipping fall season entirely, other’s say season has been “hit or miss”
Homer News

As climate change progresses, trees in cities struggle
As the driest summer in Seattle’s record books ended, trees across the city were sounding silent alarms. It was the latest in a string of Seattle summers in the last decade, including a record-breaking heat dome in 2021, to feature drier conditions and hotter temperatures that have left many trees with premature brown leaves and needles, bald branches and excessive seeding –- all signs of stress.
Seattle, Washington, United States
AP NEWS

St. Paul government declares emergency in attempt to get ahead of looming crab crash
The recent closure of the Bering Sea snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab fisheries has some Western Alaska towns taking a hard look at their futures, including St. Paul.

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.

Climate change driving narwhals to change migration timings
Researchers have detected striking changes in narwhal migration times driven by climate changes in the North. "Our long-term dataset identified that passage boundary crossing dates were associated with changing sea ice dynamics as a result of climate change," the researchers said in their paper p

Bering Sea king and snow crab seasons canceled amid population declines
For the first time ever, the Bering Sea snow crab fishery will not open for the upcoming season. The Bristol Bay red king crab fishery will also be closed for a second year in a row.

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

Under threat of thaw, some North Slope ice cellars will get tech upgrades to stay frozen
Iñupiat communities have been looking for alternatives to traditional ice cellars. Some households switched to using manmade freezers, which can be effective but they affect the taste and the quality of the food, Nelson said. Additionally, power outages, frequent in the villages, can make this storage method unreliable. So the search is on for creative ideas to preserve traditional ice cellars.

Frogs in Trouble - Gates Of The Arctic National Park and Preserve
There is a worldwide epidemic of deformed amphibians and the frequency of affected animals is higher in Alaska than in most parts of the United States. Wood frogs have been turning up in Alaska with abnormal legs and jaws, sometimes even with extra legs.

Southeast Alaska wolves eat over 60 prey species, study finds — including sea otter
A study – now in its eighth year – has found a remarkably diverse diet among the region’s wolf population. Sea otter has become a primary source of food.

Southeast Alaska wolves eat over 60 prey species, study finds — including sea otter
Southeast Alaska’s wolves tend to favor deer and moose at mealtime, but in a pinch they won’t say no to black bear – or even sea otter.

NASA Warns Methane Is Being Belched From Newly Formed Lakes
These lakes form because warm temperatures in the Arctic are melting the permafrost.
Newsweek

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

Wildfire smoke may have amplified arctic phytoplankton bloom
Smoke from a Siberian wildfire may have transported enough nitrogen to parts of the Arctic Ocean to amplify a phytoplankton bloom.
EurekAlert!

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.

Western Alaska braces for strong storm and possible floods

Kebnekaise's southern peak has not shrunk any further this year
Sweden's highest mountain Kebnekaise's southern peak has not shrunk further over the last year, scientists say. "I think the explanation is that it was quite a cold summer up here in the Kebnekaise Mountains and at the Tarfala research station so it has not melted away so much" says Nina Kirchner, director at Tarfala research center.
Mount Kebnekaise

As Yukon River chinook disappear, so does a way of life
Yukon River chinook salmon runs have been steadily declining, with 2022 the smallest run on record. As the fish disappear, Yukon First Nations fear the cultures and traditions built around the salmon over countless generations will too.
Pelly Crossing, Yukon, Canada
CBC North

With record use, Chugach State Park feels new pressures
Anchorage’s backyard wilderness is experiencing a surge in users that shows no signs of letting up. Driven in part by social media and location tracking apps, more people are recreating in historically less-used parts of the park than before.

Store-bought milkweed plants can expose monarch caterpillars to harmful pesticides
Researchers found pesticide-contaminated plants in nurseries in 15 states
University of Nevada, Reno

Saxitoxin detected in regional clam
A six-inch butter clam harvested on August 28 three miles north of Savoonga tested positive for saxitoxins, or paralytic shellfish poison, Norton Sound Health Corporation Environmental Coordinator Emma Pate said.The clam itself showed high levels of saxitoxin present: it had 450 micrograms of toxin per 100 gram of body tissue. The Food and Drug Administration’s safety limit is at 80 micrograms/100 g. Pate, via the SEATOR lab, on Sept. 23 issued a paralytic shellfish toxin advisory to Savoonga and Gambell.
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

Authorities warn subsistence users about potentially harmful algal blooms
Researchers have found a high level of potentially harmful algae in the waters near Teller, Brevig Mission, Wales, Little Diomede and Shishmaref. They are now advising that residents of those areas…

Alaska’s snow crabs have disappeared. Where they went is a mystery.
King crab legs for $199 a pound? There’s a reason for that.

Grain Farmer Fights Off Swan Invasion with Falcon-Shaped Kites
A farmer in South Iceland is resorting to a unique method to combat a unique threat to his grain crops. RÚV reports that Björgvín Þór Harðarson, a pig and grain farmer in Laxárdalur, is using falcon-shaped kites to scare away the whooper swans that are consuming and causing significant damage to his crops.

As Arctic Temperatures Rise, Polar Bears Are Eating More Garbage
A new paper warns that a growing reliance on trash is leading to more human-bear conflict
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Smithsonian Magazine

Avian flu outbreak affects wide range of species
A new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza is spreading among wild birds in North America. While there are only a few confirmed cases in Western Alaska, the scope of the outbreak still has…

Recent Increase in Seal Deaths in Maine Linked to Avian Flu
NOAA Fisheries working with partners to determine the causes of death, and assess impacts.
Southern Maine Coast
NOAA

Subsistence fishers request a decrease of salmon bycatch
As chum and chinook salmon numbers dwindle in Western Alaska, salmon bycatch in the pollock industry was a main concern addressed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, or NPFMC, from Jun…

Pollutants from far distances found in Bering Sea animals hunted by Indigenous people
A newly published study shows the presence of chemical pollutants in marine mammals and reindeer hunted by St. Lawrence Island villagers.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

New assessment of mercury levels and health risks in Arctic sea and wading birds
Kvikksølv finnes naturlig i naturen, men store mengder kvikksølv kommer også fra menneskelige utslipp. Metylkvikksølv, den giftige formen av kvikksølv…
Kongsfjorden, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
SEAPOP
Vigdis Johnsen, Sarah Yoder, Bailey Richards

Avian influenza cases have doubled statewide, but no reports from the North Slope yet
As of June 16, 48 cases of highly pathogenic avian flu were detected across the state of Alaska, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation. None of these confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are in the northernmost regions of Alaska.

HPAI confirmed on Yukon Delta NWR
Birds that USFWS sent in from the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have tested positive. Sabines gulls, glaucous gulls, and black brant all tested positive for HPAI.
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Bob Gerlach, Bryan Daniels, Michael Bruce, Angela Matz, Gay Sheffield, Brian Lefferts, Andrew Ramey, Louisa Castrodale, Eric Taylor, Dana Diehl

Management council declines action on Bering Sea bycatch to address Yukon-Kuskokwim salmon subsistence worries
The vast majority of callers at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting last week called for a reduction in bycatch limits, which they said would help reverse a dramatic trend of salmon declines on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.

Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates
A study by the University of Alaska Southeast found larger butter clams in Alaska contain higher concentrations of toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning, posing risks to harvesters.

Alaska seeks federal air quality waiver due to wildfire smoke impact
Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation seeks a waiver to exclude 2022-2023 wildfire smoke from EPA air quality assessments, citing these as "exceptional events."

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

Amid Alaska’s permafrost areas, more soil is staying thawed year-round, UAF scientists find
Warmer winters and thicker layers of insulating snow are spurring creation of more taliks, sections of ground that doesn’t freeze even in winter.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Vulnerable residents flown out of St. Mary’s as major tundra fire closes in
The City of St. Mary’s and its two tribes, the Yupiit of Andreakfsiy and the Algaaciq Tribe, held a community meeting on June 9. There, resident Geraldine Beans said that community leaders chose an optional evacuation for elders and people who are considered vulnerable. Other residents will have to wait. The fire is the largest in the history of the Lower Yukon valley. It’s been burning for a week and a half, since May 31, and has grown to about 50,000 acres.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Two Years After Huge Arctic Spill, River Water in Norilsk Is Still Red From Diesel Fuel
While mining giant Nornickel has said the local ecosystem is "satisfactory," environmentalists paint a different picture.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Researchers investigate Yukon Delta bird deaths amid avian flu outbreak
By Megan Gannon

Are seagull eggs dangerous to harvest due to bird flu?
It is egg hunting season in many rural Alaska communities, and harvesters want to know if they should be concerned about eating eggs from wild birds. According to guidance from the State of Alaska and USFWS, the risk from avian flu for people is very low.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States
Dana Diehl, Louisa Castrodale, Nadine Kochuten, Michael Bruce, Karen Pletnikoff

Alaska’s bird flu outbreak is taking an especially heavy toll on eagles and other wild birds
Cases are being detected all over the state, from the Aleutians to Mat-Su to Haines and the Interior.“What we’re seeing this year is an unprecedented level of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds,” said Andy Ramey of USGS.

Polar bears in Svalbard are disturbed around the clock by tourists. A police investigation has now begun
Rekordmange båter på fotojakt etter isbjørner. Nå undersøker Sysselmesteren på Svalbard flere mulige brudd på svalbardmiljøloven.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Borough climate change planning effort gears up
A survey is out and an open house is planned on May 14 for the Fairbanks North Star Borough's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. A public survey is out, and an open house is planned for 4 p.m. May 14 at J.P. Jones Community Center in South Fairbanks.

B.C. poultry farmers bring in quarantine measures as avian flu spreads
As cases of avian flu continue to spread across Canada, B.C. poultry farmers are implementing quarantine measures from the highly infectious virus that can cause mass death in chicken flocks.
Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada

N.W.T. health department and hunters prepare for avian flu
The territorial government issued a public service announcement earlier this week, warning people about a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza. N.W.T. hunters say they are worried about harvesting birds that may have the virus.

First case of new avian flu detected in Alaska
The advice to hunters, don’t shoot or harvest game that appears sick. If you found an animal injured or dead, just leave it there. When processing, wear rubber gloves and washing the area the game was cleaned on. You should also cook game to an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

Expanding beaver pond distribution in Arctic Alaska, 1949 to 2019
Beavers were not previously recognized as an Arctic species, and their engineering in the tundra is considered negligible. Recent findings suggest that beavers have moved into Arctic tundra regions and are controlling surface water dynamics, which strongly influence permafrost and landscape stability. Here we use 70 years of satellite images and aerial photography to show the scale and magnitude of northwestward beaver expansion in Alaska, indicated by the construction of over 10,000 beaver ponds in the Arctic tundra. The number of beaver ponds doubled in most areas between ~ 2003 and ~ 2017. Earlier stages of beaver engineering are evident in ~ 1980 imagery, and there is no evidence of beaver engineering in ~ 1952 imagery, consistent with observations from Indigenous communities describing the influx of beavers over the period. Rapidly expanding beaver engineering has created a tundra disturbance regime that appears to be thawing permafrost and exacerbating the effects of climate change.
Nature

First case of avian flu in Alaska identified in Mat-Su backyard flock
While the risk to human health is low, Gerlach has said that avian influenza could pose a threat to not only the state’s domestic birds but also wild birds, including geese, shore birds, vultures and eagles. There’s no treatment for birds that are infected, and the mortality rate for poultry and raptors like hawks, eagles or owls is especially high. Possible signs of infection includes the “sudden death of multiple birds in the flock, nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing, or respiratory distress."
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Goose hunting in times of avian influenza
"Our hunters have a vast knowledge on a healthy bird. They know what a healthy bird looks like. If a goose has the symptoms of avian flu … people shouldn't eat it," said George Diamond of Cree Public Health.
Chisasibi, Quebec, Canada

Migratory birds arriving in Alaska this year may bring avian flu with them
News of avian flu outbreaks in dozens of states in the lower 48 have wildlife managers and bird hunters on edge as the spring migration gets underway in Alaska.

Zoos hiding birds as avian flu spreads in North America
Zoos across North America are moving their birds indoors and away from people and wildlife as they try to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially deadly avian influenza. Penguins may be the only birds visitors to many zoos can see right now, because they already are kept inside and usually protected behind glass in their exhibits, making it harder for the bird flu to reach them.
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Associated Press

Copper River Seafoods no longer buying Cook Inlet salmon amid declining harvests
Copper River Seafoods is ending its run in the old Snug Harbor Seafood plant, leaving one major salmon processor in the area.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Sheen continues to spread from tug grounded in Neva Strait
On Thursday, for the first time, the sheen was reported in Krestof Sound, an area where Pacific herring are known to spawn in the spring.

Protecting Grizzly Bears from Trains in the Mountain Parks — State of the Mountains
Ten years ago, Mike Gibeau, then the carnivore biologist for Banff National Park, identified a problem: collisions between grizzly bears and trains were increasingly prevalent. Between 2000 and 2010, ten grizzly bears there were struck and killed by trains and several more unconfirmed strikes were reported.
State of the Mountains

Project looks into causes, effects of 2016-2019 drought
Hotter weather and less rain drove the three-year drought.

Mapping reveals rapid changes to the Arctic seafloor as ancient submerged permafrost thaws
Researchers documented the formation of new, irregularly shaped, steep-sided depressions. The largest was an oval-shaped depression 28 meters (92 feet) deep, 225 meters (738 feet) long, and 95 meters (312 feet) wide. The research team attributes these changes to intermittent seafloor collapse due to the gradual warming of the permafrost sediment frozen beneath the Arctic Shelf since the end of the last ice age.
Beaufort Sea
Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

High water temperatures measured last year at Chilkat Lake weir
High water temperatures were measured at Chilkat Lake weir in Alaska, raising concerns for the salmon population, although no harm to the fish has been reported so far.
Haines, Alaska, United States

As permafrost thaws, a Biden-supported drilling plan is on unstable ground
ConocoPhillips' massive Willow project would emit 284 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over its 30-year lifetime.
Grist

Alaska worries about salmon runs as climate change warms Arctic waters
With marine heat waves helping to wipe out some of Alaska’s storied salmon runs in recent years, officials have resorted to sending emergency food shipments to affected communities while scientists warn that the industry’s days of traditional harvests may be numbered. Salmon all but disappeared from the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) Yukon River run last year.

Officials believe Hooper Bay's sewage lagoon broke open due to cold followed by rain
Just two days after temperatures dipped below -5 degrees Fahrenheit in Hooper Bay, they shot up above freezing, and it started to rain. That caused the water level in the lagoon to rise, and water started to flow through the crack, eroding the lagoon wall.

Curious Alaska: Hold my berry — are Bohemian waxwings getting drunk on fermented fruit?
Bohemian waxwings are a wintertime fixture in Anchorage, darting in large flocks from one berry-filled tree to another.

West megadrought worsens to driest in at least 1,200 years
By Seth Borenstein | The Associated Press FILE - A kayaker paddles in Lake Oroville as water levels remain low due to continuing drought conditions in
Sacramento, California, United States
The Sacramento Observer

A way of life disappears along the Yukon River with the decline of the salmon
The dam altered the subsistence gathering patterns of the Tagish Kwan, the Daḵká Kwa’an and the Kwanlin Dün people. Residences, cabins and fish camps along the Whitehorse rapids were dismantled, gatherings at M’Clintock stopped, and many people dispersed to Fish Lake and Whitehorse.

2021 Arctic Report Card presents warming impacts
Warm temperatures, melting sea ice, ocean debris and permafrost degradation dominated discussion of the 2021 NOAA Arctic Report Card.

A new study predicts a huge increase in catastrophic hurricanes for the northeastern U.S.
When hurricanes cause both extreme high tides and heavy rains, devastating floods ensue. Such storms will get much more frequent by the end of the century, according to a new study.
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
NPR.org

Winter means hibernation for some — but not all — of Kodiak’s bears
By late November and into early December, they head into their dens for hibernation — but not all of them. About 30% of the Kodiak male bear population don’t den at all, according to a state biologist.

Fishery disaster declarations for Kuskokwim and Yukon salmon fisheries
Fourteen Alaska fisheries have been declared federal disasters by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Gina Raimondo issued the declarations on Jan. 21. The announcement includes Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta salmon fisheries, and could lead to federal funding for fishermen.
Emmonak, Alaska, United States

An unusual year for weather, and particularly warm
The ground was completely white in Reykjavík on just 17 days during 2021—the second-lowest number on record. The summer was the warmest on record in many parts of the country and many heat records were broken.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

As Caucasian Glaciers Melt, Locals Face the Future With Stoicism
Caucasian glaciers have lost a quarter of their surface area to climate change since the millennium. “We don’t have winters here anymore,” said Sergei Nureddinov, a guest house owner in the mountaintop village of Verkhniy Kani, gesturing to the glacier from his front yard. “The climate catastrophe is here.”
Кармадонское, Пригородный район, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia

Skagway’s blue mussels were nearly wiped out last year
The Skagway Traditional Council is asking harvesters to avoid blue mussels until the population rebounds.

Russia's grand Arctic plan might get stuck in the ice
The troublesome shipping on the Northern Sea Route continues into the new year. Almost three weeks after the world's most powerful icebreaker arrived in the Chukchi Sea, none of the four vessels stuck in the area have broken out of the ice.
Chukchi Sea

The High Arctic saw a huge spike in lightning last year
There was almost twice as much lightning north of 80 degrees in 2021 as in the previous nine years combined, a Finnish firm says.
High Arctic

The Great Siberian Thaw
Permafrost contains microbes, mammoths, and twice as much carbon as Earth’s atmosphere. What happens when it starts to melt?
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
The New Yorker

Fish retention at some peninsula lakes restricted in 2022 due to pike impacts
Restrictions exist for East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, Derks and Stormy lakes in 2022
Nikiski, Alaska, United States

I hope people talk about this storm for a long time
If that saying about Jan. 1 setting the tone for the year to come has any truth to it, 2022 is going to be a wild ride.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States

Weather year 2021
In 2021, the average temperature in Norway was normal, while precipitation was 10 percent below normal. The year is nevertheless marked by great contrasts. The summary of the weather in 2021 was presented at the Meteorological Institute's annual event Climate Status on 5 January. Here you can see video footage of Climate Status (Vimeo)
Meteorologisk institutt

Historic change to Arctic landscape as beavers migrate in masses
The North American beaver has expanded its range in recent years and is now colonising Arctic territory, researchers have found. More than 12,000 beaver ponds have been mapped in western Alaska – double the amount found in the region 20 years ago.
swiftheadline

Retreating glaciers will open up salmon streams in Alaska, study says
Deglaciation could increase salmon habitat by nearly 30% in the Gulf of Alaska by 2100.
Mendenhall Glacier

Scientists, politicians, managers, and Tribes try to find common ground on Western Alaska salmon crash
On Dec. 8 and 9, U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young held a Zoom meeting between salmon researchers, tribes, and managers. Their goal was to unite these groups’ efforts to determine the cause of the ongoing Chinook declines and the sudden chum crash in Western Alaska. After two days of meetings, the groups are still at odds over what’s causing the declines, and what the best way to move forward is.

New source of the strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide found in Siberian permafrost
A previously unknown source of the strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide has been found in East Siberian Yedoma permafrost. Published in Nature Communications today, the observation was made by an international group of researchers, with the lead of researchers from the University of Eastern Finland.
Phys.Org

Ships complete 'historical passage' on Northern Sea Route
It has been an Arctic odyssey for the ships and crews that in November got stuck in sea-ice on the remote Northern Sea Route. After a month of icy captivity and subsequent icebreaker rescue, a convoy of nine vessels this week made it to safety in the Kara Sea. On December 7, a Russian nuclear icebreaker completed
New Siberian Islands

Bristol Bay, like Bethel, also just recorded its coldest November in 80 years
Areas across the region broke both daily and monthly records. For King Salmon, it's the coldest November on record. In Dillingham, wind chills dropped to negative 41 degrees. That's the lowest November wind chill in 50 years.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Sitka Tribe’s shellfish lab honored for safeguarding traditional foods
The lab tests samples from 17 communities in Southeast, as well as from tribes on Kodiak Island.

After a month stuck in Arctic sea ice, nine vessels make it to Kara Sea
Never before at this time of year have so many vessels been rescued out of the ice, says Russia's nuclear icebreaker operator Rosatom. It has been an Arctic odyssey for the ships and crews that in November got stuck in sea-ice on the remote Northern Sea Route.
Kara Sea

Pacific halibut stock increases after four years of decline
Fish Factor: The summer setline survey could result in increased catches for most regions in 2022.

Miles from the sea, a Portland neighborhood finds itself in a new flood zone
Updated and more accurate federal maps put a cluster of homes near Capisic Brook in a zone that faces once-in-a-century risks.
Portland, Maine, United States

Bering Sea survey finds Yukon River chinook populations are low and staying closer to shore
Salmon abundance is down and population distributions have changed, according to NOAA’s 2021 surface trawl survey.

Confused about the timeline for the Red Hill fuel storage facility and contaminated water? Read this.
This article details the history and environmental concerns surrounding the Red Hill fuel storage facility, including a significant fuel leak and ongoing debates over its operation and oversight.
Pearl City, Hawaii, United States
Hawai'i Public Radio

Climate change is making Glacier Bay unstable. Scientists are mapping the risks to visitors
Landslides and tsunamis aren’t historically common in Glacier Bay, but because more than half a million visitors tour the park each year park managers want to get a clearer picture of the risks of tsunamis and landslides, which have become more common recently due to a changing climate.

NOAA Bottom Trawl Survey finds warmer waters and declining fish populations
Multiple fish populations in the Bering Sea have experienced a slight decline, according to the 2021 Bottom Trawl survey.

In Iraq's famed marshlands, climate change is upending a way of life
Drought and extreme heat that scientists link to climate change are altering the UNESCO-protected marshlands. Iraq's average annual temperatures are increasing at nearly double the rate of Earth's.
الجبيش, Dhi Qar, Iraq
NPR.org

A father and son's Ice Age plot to slow Siberian thaw
In one of the planet’s coldest places, 130 kilometers south of Russia’s Arctic coast, scientist Sergey Zimov can find no sign of permafrost as global warming permeates Siberia’s soil. As everything from mammoth bones to ancient vegetation frozen inside it for millennia thaws and decomposes, it now threatens to release vast amounts
Черский, Нижнеколымский район, Sakha, Russia
Reuters

Canadian military sets up water purification units for Iqaluit at the Sylvia Grinnell River
The Canadian Armed Forces has begun setting up two water purification units at the Sylvia Grinnell River on Monday morning to help Nunavut’s capital with its ongoing water emergency. The military had been waiting for the City of Iqaluit’s approval before setting up the units. The two parties agreed on the location Sunday night, said

Strange Bird Call Might Be Owl
Bird call on a November night in Anchorage. Maybe a great horned owl?
Anchorage, Alaska

Scientists report an increase in harmful algal blooms in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas
Since bottom water temperatures have been warming drastically across the Northern Bering and Chukchi Seas over the last few years, cysts are now growing locally in Arctic waters. The blooms carry toxins, but scientists aren’t yet sure what impact they will have on marine mammals.

Third wettest October in 120 years
Nationwide, precipitation fell 50 per cent more than normal. This month is the 3rd wettest October month dating back to 1900. The wettest was at several stations in Vestland and in Viken, five records were set for the highest amount of precipitation measured in one day in October.
Gullfjellet, Bergen, Norway 60.3828, 5.542
Meteorologisk institutt

Alaska’s starling population continues to grow. How can we stop them from becoming a complete nuisance?
The birds are smart and attractive, but can also be a hazard for other avian species and the environment.

A melting glacier could mean a chance for Alaska’s biggest hydroelectric project to expand
The Dixon Glacier, on the other side of Kachemak Bay from Fitz Creek, is rapidly receding. That’s true for glaciers around Alaska, and the world. But what’s special about Dixon is it sits just a few miles from Bradley Lake, a source of hydropower that supplies the railbelt with about 10% of its energy needs.
Fox River, Alaska, United States

In October 1821, Franklin survived the NWT (just). In October 2021, should his name survive here?
Two hundred years ago this month, some Englishmen far from home were struggling for survival in the Northwest Territories’ barrenlands. Now, Yellowknife’s main street is named for the man in charge. Chief Edward Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene community of Dettah, across the bay from Yellowknife, said he and many other community members have no attachment to Franklin and the colonial history he represents.

Caribou populations are dwindling, and we’re in denial about it
Sebastian Jones, Wildlife Analyst

The Last Ice
In Norway, glaciers are receding faster than ever and potentially will be eliminated by climate change in key tourist destinations.

City in Arctic Russia cooling ground to preserve buildings on thawing permafrost
Rising Arctic temperatures are causing permafrost to thaw, putting the world’s largest city built on frozen ground in deep trouble.
Russia

Climate Change Melts Permafrost, Transforms Landscape in Russia's North
Video | In northern Siberia, the warming climate is leaving people feeling like the ground is "going out from under their feet."
Arctic Russia

Bigleaf maple decline tied to hotter, drier summers in Washington
Scientists, concerned hikers and residents have observed more stressed and dying bigleaf maple across urban and suburban neighborhoods as well as in forested areas. While forest pathologists have ruled out several specific diseases, the overall cause of the tree’s decline has stumped experts for years.
Seattle, Washington, United States
UW News

Flood-displaced elder yearns to go home to Jean Marie River
Laura Sanguez had to flee Jean Marie River in May when floodwaters destroyed her home. Now, living in long-term care in Fort Simpson, the 83-year-old says she hasn't heard anything about the status of her home or whether she is getting a replacement home.
Jean Marie River, Northwest Territories, Canada

Cost to save Tuktoyaktuk from climate change: $42 million and rising
Protecting the coast of Tuktoyaktuk from the onslaught of climate change is estimated to cost at least $42 million and is only guaranteed to last until 2052. Over the project’s 30-year lifespan, over 60,000 cubic metres of sand are expected to be brought to keep the beach intact.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Aggressive behaviour leads to Coyote Cull in Stanley Park
Coyotes in Stanley Park are displaying novel aggressive behaviour towards humans. Rates of aggressive encounters prompted park management to call for the cull of up to 35 coyotes and a temporary nighttime closure of the park.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

In a Tiny Arctic Town, Food Is Getting Harder to Come By
One key species that is being affected by climate change in the tundra is the lemming. Lemmings are small rodents that spend the winter under the snowpack, where it’s warm enough for them to survive and reproduce. The snowpack, in addition to insulating their food, also protects them from predators.
Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada
Wired

Pak farmers protest against water shortage
A large number of farmers on Saturday staged a protest march against the acute shortage of water at Dadu district located in Pakistan Sindh province located in Pakistan's Sindh province.
Islamabad, Islāmābād, Pakistan
Big News Network.com

Storms, high winds projected to be more frequent in Western Alaska
A University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist said that the reason why Western Alaska is getting windier is that it will soon inherit the Aleutian Islands’ storms. In today’s climate, the Aleutian islands are the windiest area in Alaska.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Indigenous peoples facing evacuation in Alaska and Louisiana say the United States is ignoring climate threats
Approximately 31 Alaska Native communities face imminent climate change due to floods and erosion. This can lead to the disappearance of culture and lifestyle changes. The four tribes are in the process of relocating from a rapidly disappearing village.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Autobala

Northern Quebec opens up to electric vehicles with charging station in Chisasibi
In August, the first electric car charger was installed in the Cree community, located some 1,700 kilometers north of Montreal.
Chisasibi, Quebec, Canada

Summer 2021 was Finland's hottest in over 80 years
There were a total of 50 'heatwave' days in Finland this summer, when the temperature rose to above 25 degrees Celsius.
Yle Uutiset

Russia to Fully Ban Single-Use Plastic Products By 2024
Banned goods would include disposable plastic straws, plates, glasses, lids and appliances; coffee capsules; cotton swabs; opaque and colored PET (thermoplastic polyester) bottles; boxes and packs for tobacco products; blister packaging (except for medicines); egg cartons; and several types of bags.
Russia

Forecast end to north and east’s amazing summer
Yet another weather record has been broken this summer, as this August was the warmest since records began in Akureyri. There are signs that weather patterns will change in the middle of next week.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland

Photographer Finds Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings
In September 2021, photographer Dmitry Kokh visited Kolyuchin Island and found the strange sight of polar bears that had taken over an abandoned settlement.
PetaPixel

August 2021 was the hottest on record for Montreal
It’s official! August 2021 will go down in the record books as being the hottest on record for Montreal. The city recorded a monthly mean temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius, which is 3.5 degrees warmer than normal.
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Montreal

Declining sea ice in Kotzebue Sound is shortening subsistence hunt for seals, study finds
Seal meat makes up a good portion of what’s in subsistence hunters’ freezers in Kotzebue. But the sea ice the seals haul out on is diminishing, and new research shows that's shortening the window to hunt seals.

LED streetlights decimating moth numbers in England
The study is the first to examine the impact of LEDs in a real-world setting and the first to show the direct impact of light pollution on caterpillars. The caterpillars are less mobile than adult moths, and therefore show more precisely the local losses caused by light pollution.
England, United Kingdom
the Guardian

Colorado River, Lifeline Of The West, Sees Historic Water Shortage Declaration
The first-ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River forces arid Western states to re-examine their relationship with resources many take for granted, drinking water and cheap hydroelectricity.
Colorado, United States
NPR.org

A midwestern town moved uphill to survive the elements. Can others do the same?
The relatively well-off bedroom community of Valmeyer, Illinois, could afford to relocate – but moving isn’t as easy for less affluent towns
Valmeyer, Illinois, United States

Russia's 2021 Wildfires Now Largest in Its Recorded History
The new record beats the previous record set in 2012 and comes with weeks left to go in a devastating wildfire season.
Russia

US communities say dire predictions in UN climate report already unfolding
For many U.S. communities, the bleak predictions laid out in a new United Nations climate change report are more a reflection of the present and not just what’s to come.
The Hill

California company parachutes packages into rural Alaska communities
When pilots stopped traveling to villages during the COVID-19 pandemic, people had to go without important supplies. Fresh food often spoils before it arrives. Immunizations expire before they can be delivered. Dash Systems describes it as a “land the package, not the plane” approach, and it aims to make next-day delivery available in remote areas.

Climate change is endangering sacred land. For these Native women, it threatens ‘everything we are.’
Wildfires in Western states have razed structures, displaced residents and altered air quality - and fundamentally changed the relationship between Native women and the land they have historically stewarded.
Newell, California, United States

Portland just recorded its rainiest July in more than a century
The city had 9.53 inches of rain last month, surpassed only by the 10.84 inches that fell in July 1915.
Portland, Maine, United States

Water and sanitation deficiencies worsened the COVID pandemic in rural Alaska, a study finds
A lack of adequate water and sewer service and overcrowded housing combined to make the COVID-19 pandemic more severe in rural Alaska, a new study confirms.

Salmon returns set records in Bristol Bay while Southeast runs struggle
For the past 5-6 years, salmon runs all over Bristol Bay have been very strong.“This year’s record-breaking return is the result of this careful stewardship,” said executive director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay. “Our lands and waters must be protected so future generations can continue our way of life and Bristol Bay can remain the salmon stronghold for the planet.”
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

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