The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Perils of an Endless Summer - The typical complaints from summer visitors has always been about the cold, the wet, or the lack of sunshine. Not this summer. No cold, no wet, just week upon week of blue skies and crazy record temperatures. It feels more like California than Alaska. It has been great for suntans, gardens, and swimming in the lake. But now, after months without significant rainfall, we are realizing it has been way too much of a good thing. On Sunday, record winds re-kindled wildfires across the region, stranding travelers and burning 50 homes and other structures near Willow. Siberia is also having a very bad wildfire season. The scale of their fires is hard to imagine with an area the size of Greece currently burning. Water shortages are making controlling the fires impossible. Here in Alaska, Haines is one of many communities currently struggling with water shortages, as high temperatures, no snow pack, no precipitation, and old leaking systems conspire to drain reservoirs and water tanks. Food security, in particular related to salmon is another hot topic. Michael Opheim's observation entitled, Jakolof Creek Fish Die-Off, is a must read. Jakolof (now dry for the second time since 2015) is the canary in the coalmine for stream conditions throughout the region. See also the ADN article about the Susitna Valley. In the backdrop are rivers, from Bethel to Kotzebue with very low water, very high temperatures and significant (but not total) die-offs of unspawned salmon. The old days with just one week of "summer" are sounding pretty good right now. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	2019 to be ‘worst-ever year’ for wildfires in Siberia and ‘only rain can now extinguish flames’ Siberian Times / August 14, 2019 Some 5.4 million hectares of land are ablaze across Russia, mostly in Siberia and the country's far east. Water sprayed by planes to fight the fires is ‘now as expensive as Champagne’. Read article on Siberian Times
	Wildfire along Parks Highway burns at least 50 structures Willow, Alaska, United States Michelle Theriault Boots / Anchorage Daily News / August 18, 2019 The highway remained closed north of Willow after the fire jumped the road Sunday, authorities said. The fire started Saturday afternoon when wind blew a tree onto a power line. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Haines water department works to keep water flowing from Lily Lake amid drought Haines, Alaska, United States Henry Leasia / Alaska Public Media / August 16, 2019 The main water line comes from Lily Lake through 10,000 feet of line. According to Supervisor Dennis Durr, “We’re making 130 gallons a minute right now. Normally this time of year we should be making at least 250 gallons a minute. We’re not keeping up right now, but we are making water. That’s good. That’s keeping us in the ball game here.” Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Jakolof Creek Fish Die-off Head of Jakolof Bay on Jakolof Creek Michael Opheim / LEO Network / August 12, 2019 "Jakolof Creek is dry almost all the way up to the switchbacks and continues to recede. The early run of red salmon may have made it to the lake, but that is probably the only run that has." Read post on the LEO Network
	Record heat has Susitna Valley silver salmon in hot - and low - water Willow, Alaska, United States Matt Tunseth / Anchorage Daily News / August 20, 2019 Two popular rivers are being closed to fishing because almost no cohos are making it upstream. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Pink Salmon smash June record Cold Bay, Alaska, United States Bristol Bay Times / August 17, 2019 One theory is the pinks were traveling somewhere else to spawn, and taking a longer than usual route to avoid warming water. Read article on Bristol Bay Times
	Whitehorse fish ladder sees delayed start to Chinook run Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Jackie Hong / Yukon News / August 16, 2019 The Whitehorse fish ladder is seeing a slower start to the season than usual, with fewer fish than average having passed through at this point compared to previous years. Read article on Yukon News
	Mixed fortunes for berry pickers this year Egilsstaðir, East, Iceland Senda skilaboð / RÚV / August 9, 2019 The south and west of the country are on course for a good harvest, as the sun has been a near-constant companion all season. Berry pickers in East Iceland are less optimistic. Read article on RÚV

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
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