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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

Unseasonably warm autumn not delaying birds' departure
Temperature records continued to be broken this week in Utsjoki, Finland's northernmost municipality. Despite thie, the autumn migration of birds is proceeding at a fairly standard pace, according to Birdlife Finland.
Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
News

Fort Simpson mayor says water levels might end ferry season early this year
As the Liard River water levels continue to drop, Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly is urging people in the N.W.T. village to get prepared earlier than usual.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

The glaciers in Finnmark are melting the fastest of Norway's glaciers
The glaciers in Finnmark, particularly the Øksfjordjøkelen, are melting rapidly, with significant shrinkage observed each year, raising concerns about climate change impacts.
Øksfjordjøkelen, Loppa, Finnmark
NRK
Kristina Brekke, Hanne Larsen, Bent Lindsetmo, Kai Erik Bull, Vanja Ulfsnes

New kind of plant on the beach
A new plant species is establishing itself in the area and impacting native beach greens.
Aleksandrovsk, Alaska, United States

Sabine’s Gull––A distinctive and unusual tern-like gull
An observer reports unusual sightings of Sabine's gulls, including juveniles, outside their typical migration period, suggesting a potential new breeding colony near Nome.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

More than ten warnings issued due to Icebergs
The Icelandic Coast Guard has issued many warnings regarding icebergs in the past two days.
Árneshreppur, Westfjords, Iceland
RÚV

Wildlife officers kill wolf near Yellowknife's Ranney Hill, days after hiker bitten
Wildlife officials in Yellowknife have confirmed that they killed a wolf in the Ranney Hill area, days after a person was bit by a wolf on the walking trail. They have not yet determined if it's the same animal.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Finland records 71st 'hot' day this year
Meteorologists recorded a high temperature of 25.2 degrees Celsius (77 F) in the eastern town of Lappeenranta, marking the city's 40th 'hot' day this year, according to Yle forecaster Anne Borgström.
Lappeenranta, South Karelia, Finland
News

Dead Sea Otters
No obvious cause of death for this adult and juvenile otter.
McDonald Spit, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton, Barbara Mahoney, Mike Brubaker

In Yukon, salmon for dinner used to mean fresh-caught fish. Now, it's flown in
CBC Radio’s What on Earth travelled to Yukon this summer to explore how a warming climate has threatened chinook salmon, endangering not just the species but a cultural keystone for some Indigenous communities.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC Radio

Unusual cysts in grayling
"Grayling guts with unknown pearl like cyst or tapeworm. Never seen this before in our grayling."
Arctic Village, Alaska, United States
Noah Tsigonis, Crystal Frank Welker, Jayde Ferguson, Sarah Yoder

Wondering where the fish have gone
With a bleak salmon return this year in Northwest Alaska, a lifelong fisherman reflects on a season marked by empty nets and big questions.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Orcas challenge the Bering Sea’s black cod industry
Orcas are starting to show new feeding behaviors around large trawler nets. They’re trying to steal fish caught in nets that are typically being hauled back. Scientists aren’t sure why orcas are doing this, but it’s dangerous for them because it increases their chances of getting caught in the net and dying.The problem is so bad that some fishermen have decided to skip fishing for black cod this year.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Strong winds break boats loose in Ísafjörður
Boats that were moored in Ísafjörður, broke away from their berths yesterday in gale force winds.There was a strong sea current in the Westfjords as the storm hit; roof panels were damaged and rescue teams were called out.
Ísafjörður, Westfjords, Iceland
RÚV

A summer without mosquitoes
An unusually mosquito-free summer in Anchorage, Alaska, despite wet conditions, has prompted discussions among local observers and experts, with no clear correlation found between weather patterns and mosquito activity. Although the numbers and timing are locally influenced, similar observations were shared from Fairbanks and Chistochina.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Daisy Huang, Wilson Justin, Christopher Crews, Derek Sikes, Wilson Justin, Jessie Moan, Richard L Thoman Jr, Gemini , Mike Brubaker

Blue-green algae bloom found in Yellowknife not toxic, government says
The N.W.T.'s Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Canadian Coast Guard tested samples from various locations in the area. The results showed no toxins present.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Landslide triggers 55-foot tsunami wave at Kenai Fjords National Park
Heavy rains and melting glaciers are making landslides in the area more common, says a geologist.
Pedersen Bay, Alaska
Alaska Public Media

Exceptionally warm summer in Finnmark
Warm summer days lasted all August along the coast to the Barents Sea, from Hammerfest in the west to Kirkenes in the east. The latter is now experiencing the warm weather to last into September with several days reaching maximum temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius (68 F).
Kirkenes, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

Damage from permafrost melting in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation may exceed 10 trillion rubles
The article discusses the potential economic impact of permafrost melting in Russia's Arctic zone, estimating damages could exceed 10 trillion rubles by 2050 due to infrastructure collapse and other issues.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

'Haunting glimpse of Climate Change': Snow vanishes from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat for the first time in history
For the first time, snow has completely disappeared from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat, a significant change noted last week.
Om Parvat

Spike in salmon shark sightings near Kodiak stumps researchers
Researchers are puzzled by an increase in salmon shark sightings near Kodiak, with unclear links to king salmon declines and insufficient data on shark populations and movements.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

New Hampshire resident dies after testing positive for mosquito-borne encephalitis virus
A New Hampshire resident's death from EEE prompts concerns over the virus's spread, leading to nighttime outdoor activity bans in Massachusetts towns.
Hampstead, New Hampshire, United States
AP News

Search Called Off, No Tourists Under Ice
The search for tourists believed trapped in a collapsed Icelandic ice cave has ended, revealing all were accounted for; experts criticize year-round tours as unsafe.
Höfn, Southern Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

1 person killed in Ketchikan landslide, multiple homes destroyed
A landslide in Ketchikan resulted in one fatality, multiple destroyed homes, and ongoing emergency responses, following heavy rainfall.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

50 Massachusetts beaches closed for unsafe bacteria as residents try to enjoy weekend before Labor Day
Over the past few months, the Mass Department of Public Health, working with the Department of Recreation and Conservation, has deemed dozens of water locations throughout the state closed due to high bacteria levels.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
CBS Boston

Fish and Game searching for wolf that bit 2 people on Dalton Highway
Alaska Fish and Game officials are searching for a rare, potentially rabid wolf that unexpectedly attacked two people on the Dalton Highway.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Glacial flood on Skaftá River - Civil Defence "level of uncertainty"issued
The glacial flood, or jökulhlaup, is the first from the western cauldron in almost three years. This is considered to be a significantly lengthy break.
Vatnajökull Glacier
RÚV

Melting Starfish
Starfish wasting observed in Kassan for the first time in several years.
Kasaan, Alaska, United States
Krissy Dunker, Gemini , Donna Aderhold, Kris Holderied, Melissa Miner, Carol Fletcher, Sarah Yoder

Third consecutive Bering Sea storm touches down on Alaska's west coast
Meteorologists say the brunt of the storm is likely headed for the southern edge of the Seward Peninsula.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Red skies over Finland as Canadian wildfire smoke arrives
The smoke particles have already reached high into the atmosphere, so they won't cause health problems or unusual odours. The most colourful sunset is expected on Tuesday evening.
Finland
Yle

Coastal Yukon River faces flood advisory as lower Kuskokwim catalogs flood impacts
Communities along the lower Kuskokwim River and coastal areas in Western Alaska assess damage from recent storms, with flooding and erosion impacting homes and infrastructure, and a new storm potentially exacerbating conditions.
Western Alaska, United States
Sage Smiley, KYUK - Bethel and Evan Erickson, KYUK - Bethel

Erosion continues along Noatak River
High water throughout the summer continues to erode the river bank.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Gemini , Jeffrey Luther, Crane Johnson

Interior sees record temperatures as former typhoon approaches Alaska
Some temperatures in the eastern Interior hit 90 degrees Sunday, as ex-Typhoon Ampil moves toward Western Alaska this week.
Eagle, Alaska, United States

Concern Over Plummeting Ptarmigan Population
This breeding season for ptarmigans has been the fourth worst on record in northern Iceland, due in part to a June snowstorm.
Northern Iceland
Iceland Review

Another whale swims close to Reynisfjara
RÚV received a video this week that shows a whale just off the beach at Reynisfjara; the second time in about a week. Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, marine biologist and cetacean expert at the Icelandic Marine Research Institute, says the whale swims shallow in a search for food.
Vik, South, Iceland

Toxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning blamed for Alaska seal deaths
A die-off last year at St. Paul Island, the first compelling case of fatal saxitoxin poisoning in marine mammals, comes as more harmful algae is found farther north
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Tree Rotten or Infested?
A close look at this fallen spruce tree raises questions underlying causes and tree health.
College, Alaska, United States

Blue Jay sighted near Dawson City
Blue jays occur across southern Canada from Alberta east to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Dawson City, YT

High water after many days of rain
Alatna and Koyukuk River water level rise in three days raising concerns for transportation, and community is on emergency flood watch.
Alatna, Alaska, United States

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