The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

The long winter - In the last edition, I wrote about the big snow. That was back in February. Two months later and it is still snowing! Yesterday, Alaska Public Media informed us that Anchorage had set a record for April snow accumulation. More is in the forecast. As an avid skier, I am basically immune to the long winter blues, unless it's a winter without snow. There is, however, a lot of grumbling going on across the city. It's not surprising, it truly has been one long winter. There have been at least 16 roof failures, including one tragic fatality. Along with the persistent worries about what is overhead, there are also the challenges of getting from point a to point b, with few sidewalks and many snow berms and other obstacles. The state extended the date for removing studded tires by two weeks, to May 15. That does not happen very often. Further north, LEO Network member Jimmy Evak has been reporting on the numerous storms this year in the Northwest Arctic. "I was born and raised in Kotzebue and have been through many storms. This was one of the worst." According to Rick Thoman, the 75 mph winds at the airport were the highest for March in the past 45 years. This after back-to-back blizzards buried much of the Northwest and Norton Sound earlier in March. A similar report came out of northern Norway recently where record March snow and cold temperatures were report from Tromso and Lofoten. So what do you do if you are not a skier? I have noticed that the fat tire bikers in Anchorage are also still smiling. For a positive spin, see the CBC article about the growing winter biking scene (snowy winters too) in Finland and increasingly, Canada. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Anchorage sets new record for amount of snow on the ground in April Anchorage, Alaska, United States Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage / Alaska Public Media / April 11, 2023 Snow dumped on Southcentral Alaska this weekend, with more than 8 inches falling in the Anchorage area and about 5 inches in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. A Climatologist says this weekend has led to a record amount of snowpack this late in the season. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	At least 16 roof failures reported, and winter isn’t over yet Anchorage, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / April 11, 2023 Anchorage municipal officials say at least 16 roofs have buckled in the city this winter under heavy snow and ice, and they’re wary of additional collapses after another storm dropped more snow this weekend. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Major March Storm Kotzebue, Alaska, United States Jimmy Evak and Richard L Thoman Jr / LEO Network / March 25, 2023 "I was born and raised in Kotzebue and have been through many storms. This was one of the worst." Read post on the LEO Network
	Snow record in Tromsø Tromsø, Troms, Norway Helge Lurås / inyheter.no - Nyheter og aktuelt - Innenriks og Utenriks. / March 25, 2023 It has never snowed more in Tromsø in March than this year. There has been 158 cm of snow on the record so far this month and the previous record is 150 cm from 2000. Read article on inyheter.no - Nyheter og aktuelt - Innenriks og Utenriks.
	Shellfish growers in Northwest’s oyster capital want ‘blitz’ against invasive green crabs Ocean Park, Washington, United States opb / Shellfish growers in Willapa Bay in southwest Washington, the self-styled "Oyster Capital of the World," are alarmed by an invasion of potentially destructive nonnative European green crabs. Some are asking for an all-out trapping offensive to corral the invasive species. Read article on opb
	Dog dies after contracting avian flu in Oshawa Oshawa, Ontario, Canada CBC / April 3, 2023 A pet dog in Oshawa has died after testing positive for avian flu, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. The CFIA says the number of documented cases of H5N1 — also known as avian flu — in other species like cats and dogs is low, and based on current evidence, the risk to the general public remains low. Read article on CBC
	The birds are back in town. Spring migration could fuel spread, evolution of avian flu, scientists warn Canada CBC / April 7, 2023 Across Canada, an estimated seven million birds and counting have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza during a devastating global outbreak that shows no signs of winding down. Now, as millions more migrate north, scientists warn it’s yet another opportunity for this virus to spread and evolve. Read article on CBC
	Scrapie Diagnosed in Northwest Iceland Iceland Jelena Ćirić / Iceland Review / April 4, 2023 The degenerative and fatal disease scrapie has been diagnosed in sheep at Bergsstaðir farm in Northwest Iceland. It is the first time the disease has been detected in the region, which will have an impact not just on Bergsstaðir but the entire district. Read article on Iceland Review
	How will climate change affect Arctic agriculture? Arctic The Independent Barents Observer / April 21, 2023 “Warmer and wetter winters shorten the winter season and prolong the growing season, which give rise to new opportunities. Among other things, this includes higher annual yield with several harvests, along with the possibility to grow new, more productive crop varieties and species,” says Dr Sigridur Dalmannsdottir at NIBIO. Read article on The Independent Barents Observer
	Airline passengers could be in for a rougher ride, thanks to climate change Pacific Ocean Scott Neuman - NPR / Alaska Public Media / April 6, 2023 In March, Ingrid Weisse, her husband and two young sons were aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 889, headed home from Portland, Ore. to Hawaii, when the Boeing 737 began buffeting so fiercely that it felt as if the plane would shake itself apart. The reason for this is clear-air turbulence, As global temperatures increase due to rising levels of greenhouse emissions such as carbon dioxide, the jet stream is experiencing more wind shear. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Is it possible to improve winter biking in Canada? Finland shows the way Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland CBC / March 16, 2023 Oulu has more than 900 kilometres of separated bike paths, which is comparable to Montreal. In the winter, the city plows this huge bike network by 6 a.m. every day and will plow multiple times a day if needed. Read article on CBC

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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