LEO Network

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

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, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

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
SVT Nyheter

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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

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
NRK

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.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
KTUU

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
CTV News

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.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Beacon

'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
CTV News

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
The Barents Observer

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 Barents Observer

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
KYUK

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
Press Herald

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.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

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
Alaska Beacon

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
Alaska Public Media

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
Alaska Public Media

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
CBC

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
CBC

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
Iceland Review

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
Anchorage Daily News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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