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

7.3 magnitude earthquake triggers brief tsunami warning for Southwest Alaska communities
A tsunami warning that was later downgraded was issued for several coastal communities after the earthquake struck south of Sand Point.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Fire destroys Peter Pan Seafoods facility in Sand Point
A fire destroyed a Peter Pan Seafoods facility in Sand Point, Alaska, causing a pervasive smell of burning plastic from fishing gear stored on-site.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Tsunami warning canceled following strong earthquake off Alaska Peninsula
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake initially triggered sirens and evacuations in communities including Sand Point and Kodiak.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

High levels of PSP in Blue Mussels
Blue mussels collected on 6/15/2023, were way above the FDA limit for safe consumption of 80 μg/100g.

Unidentified juvenile crab
Juvenille crab was found at a salmon set-net site. Is this a Puget Sound species that has now been found on the Alaska Peninsula?
Orzinski Bay
Tammy Davis, Karen Pletnikoff, Melissa Good, Asia Beder

Unusual container found on Bering Sea beach
This container was found on the beach near Nelson Lagoon, Alaska. No letters or numbers, symbols or any other noticeable identifications. It turns out it is a special type of long term bait container used for crab fisheries.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States
Melissa Good, Mark McNeley, Tom Okey, Gay Sheffield, Amy Holman

Unusual Bird Sighting May Be a Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Unidentified birds may be Pine Grosbeaks (*Pinicola enucleator*), whose species range extends to some parts of the Alaska Peninsula.

Dust-like deposit on water along beach
White, dust-like deposit on the beach on sunny day after high tides. Water samples would be required for identification.
Dean Stockwell, Arlene Gunderson, Thomas Farrugia

Unusual Winter Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Sighting
Although bears may hibernate for different lengths of time during winter, winter bear activity is an uncommon sight for Alaska Peninsula residents.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Damage from Fall Storm
Winds in Sand Point reached speeds higher than those predicted by the National Weather Service and caused damage to community infrastructure.
Anne Morris, Edward "Ted" Smith, Amber Hill

Tsunami warning issued following 7.4 magnitude earthquake off Alaska Peninsula
A tsunami warning was issued for areas along the Alaska Peninsula coastline following the 7.4 earthquake, which was centered 62 miles from Sand Point.
In this post, you can find links to the US Tsunami Warning Centers, as well as information on creating home emergency kits during COVID.
We hope everyone stays safe as this event unfolds, and welcome observations of conditions along the Alaska Peninsula.
Anchorage Daily News

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Floating by Moller Point
Between 2015 and 2020, two Unusual Mortality Events have been declared for wales along the western coast of British Colombia and the United States, indicating the possibility of a disturbance to the marine ecosystem.
King Cove Alaska

Dead Seal On The Beach
King Cove Alaska

Picking Shellfish Yields Tingling Fingers
Is there something that would cause fingers to tingle or swell after touching the mussels and clams?

Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Found Farther West Than Normal
Giant kelp (*Macrocystis pyrifera*) is normally found in Prince William Sound and Kodiak Archipelago. However, it has recently appeared at the north end of Zachary Bay near Sand Point.

Proliferation of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Landfill
Rabies has been identified by the State of Alaska as being endemic (regularly found) in the fox population in this area.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Another Sand Point fisherman is chomped on by a sea lion
The third such bite in two years prompted a police warning in the Aleutian Islands town.
Anchorage Daily News

Indian Summer: Unusually Warm September
Unusually warm September temperatures.

Elevated PSP Levels in Unalaska and Sand Point
Regional monitoring program notifies shellfish harvesters of an upward trend in concentrations of PSP.

Abnormally Cold Spring
At Cold Bay, snow was reported on five days during the month, the most for any May since 2013.

Landslides Disrupt Community Infrastructure
Landslides threatened community water supply, transportation, and residential homes.
Ivanof Bay, Alaska, United States
Moses Tcheripanoff, Richard Buzard, George Anderson

Late Bloom Of Moss
Late Mossberry (*Empetrum nigru*) Bloom

Dead Juvenile Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Unusual Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)
Are the difference species of bird ecosystems failing or in the process of change?
Kathy Kuletz, Angela Johnson, Julia Parrish

Dead Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
We are unsure how the eagle died.

Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) in School
A spider was found in a class room, not sure what it is.
Derek Sikes, Jessie Moan, Karis Porcincula

First Sight of Snow
Early sighting of snow this year.

Subsistence Harvest Comes Early
Silver salmon, Brant geese and berries.

A Poor Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Fishing for pinks has been really up and down the last few years. In 2014 the catch was really low, and then 2015 it was amazing with more than we had ever seen before. This year's pink salmon return again, was really bad.
Red Bluff, Popof Island, Alaska

Abundant Jellyfish Disrupt Commercial Salmon Fishery
Purse seiner crew scrambles to shovel the huge bycatch of Northern sea nettle jelly fish (*Chrysaora melanaster*) overboard.

Jellyfish Getting Bigger
Getting bigger each sighting.

Dead Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) in Boat Harbor
Dead sea lion found in boat harbor, cause of death unknown.

Leopard or Giant Garden Slug (Limax maximus) Found
Leopard Slug Found

March Flies (Bibionidae) All Over Sand Point
Flies all over Sand Point

Extremely High PSP Levels
Extremely high PSP levels

Early Bloom of Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Highbush) Bushes
Early bloom of salmonberry bushes.

Dead Murres At Boat Harbor

Volcano Spewing Ash and Lava
Pavlov Volcano provides spring show and showers
Mount Pavolf, Alaska, United States

Volcanic Ash Fall
Ash from Mount Pavlof Lands in Nelson Lagoon

Dead Birds On Spit Beach
Residents concern over die-offs persist

Sand Point's Unsafe PSP Toxin Levels
Unusually high PSP toxin levels making shellfish unsafe to eat.

Dead Birds (Cepphus columba) In Harbor
Dead birds in harbor

Dead Birds - Seagulls and Magpies
Dead seagulls and magpies

So Many Pinks (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
Amazing run of pink salmon.

High PSP in Clams
High PSP in clams - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

High PSP in Clams
High PSP level in Sand Point, Alaska

PSP High in Clams
The paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) results for Sand Point, Alaska (butter clams collected 1/5/2015) had PSP toxin levels of 112 micrograms/100 grams.

High PSP in Clams
High PSP in clams

Abundance of Fireweed (Chamerion agustifolium) on Popof Island
Abundance of Fireweed on Popof Island

Northern Sea Nettle Jellyfish Die-Off
Northern sea nettle jellyfish die-off

Pavlof Volcano Ash
Volcanic eruption in the Aleutian's.

Persistent High PSP Levels
Persistently high levels of PSP recorded in the Shumagin Islands.

Leopard Slug (Limax maximus)
For a couple years, Sand Point residents have observed an increasing number of the non-native leopard slug.

Volcanic Ash Fall
5-21-13 Volcanic ash fall - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

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