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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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What the haze? Here's the deal with all the smoke in Juneau right now
A hazy shade of summer.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Alaska’s changing climate
Local residents debated whether a massive release of spruce pollen, which accumulated on every surface—including car bonnets, picnic tables and the nearby Kachemak Bay—amounted to a “golden sheen” or a “yellow scum”. The fine dust turned the surface of the sea the colour of butter and left a bright, lemony line on shore that marked the extent of high tide and gave off a sickly sweet smell. This huge release of pollen might be yet another symptom of a rapidly changing environment.
Homer, Alaska, United States
The Economist

Smoke from Alaska wildfire threatens Anchorage's air quality
Smoke from wildfires in Alaska could cause very unhealthy air quality conditions and low visibility over the weekend in Anchorage, the state's largest city, officials said.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
U.S.

Sargassum Seaweed (S. fluitans and S. natans) beaching in Key West
Little to no apparent management posed possible ecological and environmental health concerns.
Key West, Florida, United States

Warm, windy weather stokes Kenai Peninsula wildfire, leading to traffic delays and campground closures
The latest update put the Swan Lake fire’s size at 23,530 acres.
Soldotna, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rare eruption of Russia's Raikoke Volcano Erupts
Unlike some of its perpetually active neighbors on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Raikoke Volcano on the Kurile Islands rarely erupts. The small, oval-shaped island most recently exploded in 1924 and in 1778.
WDRB

Smoke from Kenai Peninsula wildfire likely to blow into Anchorage through this weekend
“Smoke concentrations will be such that they could impact public health at times, according to an advisory issued by the state Division of Air Quality.
Kalifornsky, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Thousands in northwest Alberta put on evacuation alert as wildfires grow
An additional 12,000 people in northwest Alberta have been placed on evacuation alert as an out-of-control wildfire in the area grows.
Arcadia, Alberta, Canada
CBC

Record Temps in Goldstream
Warm temperatures are rapidly melting snow and creating ice, which creates difficult conditions for dog mushers. Migratory birds are arriving early, and a mosquito emerged months early. Small owls dead around the Goldstream Valley that looked unusually thin.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Fire Destroys Homes in Alexandra
Modderfontein, Gauteng, South Africa

Residents of Smog-Hit Russian Town Sue Over Health Complications
Locals blamed a mining company for attempting to hide what they called an 'ecological tragedy.'
Sibay, Bashkortostan, Russia
The Moscow Times

Ash turns Siberia snow black triggering acute pollution concerns from locals
Blame for pollution is focused on failure of coal plant to filter emissions.
Прокопьевский, Кемеровская область, Russia
Siberia Times

California fires: Number of missing soars over 1,000 as Paradise reels from unfathomable losses
The death toll in the Camp fire in Northern California rose to 63 Thursday as President Trump planned to visit California to meet with people impacted by the wildfires in what marks his second trip to the state since his election.
Paradise, California, United States
latimes.com
Alene Tchekmedyian, Nicole Santa Cruz, Javier Panzar

'New normal' ferocious winds whip up deadly California fires
Two deadly wildfires fueled by "devil winds" tore through opposite ends of California on Sunday, with residents urged to heed evacuation orders by officials forced to leave their own homes. In northern California, the Camp Fire is one of the deadliest and most destructive in the state'
Paradise, California, United States
Reuters

Canada's dry lakes and dust storms 'warning for planet'
For 300 years, glacial runoff was the major water source for Kluane Lake, flowing in by way of the Slims River. But in May 2016, Kluane Lake levels dropped precipitously. The problem was a case of "river piracy" — incredibly rare, and hugely significant. The terminus or end of the Kaskawulsh glacier had receded enough that a glacial lake that fed the Slims River suddenly drained when the glacier outflow found a new direction to a new river.
Kluane Lake
The Weather Network

Across the Arctic, bubbling lakes are leaking carbon dioxide, methane and other dangerous greenhouse gases
Set against the austere peaks of the Western Brooks Range, the lake, looked like it was boiling. Its waters hissed, bubbled and popped as a powerful greenhouse gas escaped from the lake bed.
Western Brooks Range, Alaska
National Post

87 days of smog: Southern California just saw its longest streak of bad air in decades
Southern California went 87 days without a clean air day, the longest stretch of consecutive ozone pollution violations in at least 20 years. Regulators blame the persistence in pollution on hot, stagnant weather and are studying whether climate change is driving it.
Los Angeles, California, United States
latimes.com

Thick smoke in the Alberni Valley, lasting days
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province
The British Columbia government has declared a state of emergency to support the provincewide response to the ongoing wildfire situation.
British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Cruise ship exhaust prompts complaints to state authorities
Exhaust emissions from a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel docking in Juneau prompted at least 10 complaints to an Alaska regulatory agency.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Sargassum on the south coast
Newport, Curacao
Curaçao Chronicle

Air Quality Advisory due to Wildfires
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Fire Smoke Encroaching into Unalakleet
A haze surrounding the hills had a distinct smell of burned wood.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Lots of Spruce (Picea glauca) Pollen and Early
Windows have been open during the record heat and the interior of the house is also full of pollen, a thin layer can be seen on the floor near windows. Everyone, even people like myself who rarely experience allergies, are feeling the effects, burning eyes, runny nose, and cough.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Alaska birch pollen is getting so bad, even those without allergies might suffer
Spiking levels of birch pollen around much of the state are also being seen during an early spring in Anchorage this week, as doctors deal with an influx of allergy and asthma patients.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Volcanic Ash Fall
Ash from Mount Pavlof Lands in Nelson Lagoon
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Wildfire smoke Alert
Air Quality will vary between Good and Unhealthy depending on wind flow and proximity to the fire.-Southcentral areas near–Willow, Wasilla, Palmer, Butte, Anchorage, and south over the Kenai Peninsula to include Cooper Landing, Kenai Keys and Skilak Lake areas.

Dust, lack of snow conspire for poor air
Increasing winds may drive the air quality to become "unhealthy to hazardous," said a statement from Eileen Probasco, planning director with the Matanuska-Sustina Borough.

High pollen levels
High spruce pollen levels causing eye, respiratory irrigation and nose bleeds.

The Mystery Rust of Kivalina, Alaska
Last month a mysterious orange film ("goo" in the media vernacular) washed up on the shores of a northwest Alaskan village called Kivalina. An orange powder seems an odd product for the drying of crustacean eggs, but could make perfect sense for fungi -- specifically, the rust fungi.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Scientific American Blog Network

ConocoPhillips Alaska employees evacuated due to prolonged natural gas leak on the North Slope
The leak was detected early Friday at the drill site CD1, 8 miles north of the village of Nuiqsut. “There are no reports of injury or environmental impact to the tundra or wildlife,” the company’s statement said. “Air quality continues to be monitored and no natural gas has been detected outside of the CD1 pad.” The gas leak happened below gravel, and its cause and scale are under investigation, Conoco said. The company said it is using natural gas detection monitors at the CD1 pad, and conducting infrared surveys from the air.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Kenow wildfire burns north through park and beyond, but Waterton townsite spared
Lashing at the western boundaries of Waterton Lakes National Park since Friday, the Kenow wildfire’s devastating journey across the continental divide tore a fiery path through the beloved southwestern Alberta park — mercifully sparing much of the townsite but broke north along the entrance highway.
Waterton Park, Alberta, Canada
calgaryherald

Wildfire smoke from Southwest Alaska hinders air quality and visibility in Southcentral
Smoke from dozens of active wildfires in Southwest Alaska moved across a large portion of the state on Sunday, worsening the visibility and air quality in several regions, including around Anchorage and Southcentral. The haze in the Anchorage area was expected to ease somewhat early in the week.

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