A new federal database, created with over a century of information, shows where Pacific walruses haul out on both sides of the border. And that’s especially important as sea ice disappears and the animals spend more time on land.
Alaska's Energy Desk
New effort shines a spotlight on ocean acidification in Alaska
Climate change may get all the attention, but it has a less-talked-about but no less troubling twin: ocean acidification. And a growing chorus of Alaskans, from shellfish growers to fishermen, are fretting about the potential impacts to the state’s waters. Now a new collaboration is aiming to bring ocean acidification into the spotlight — with the hope that better understanding it will better prepare the state to adapt.
Federal, state researchers map Alaska’s geochemical atlas of rocks and minerals
The updated geochemical atlas was an outgrowth of another project. Geologists and surveyors were on a mission to find rare earth elements and minerals that could be strategically important to the country.
Why a Bahamas tanker is carrying North Slope crude
A foreign-owned tanker is expected to transport North Slope crude to Asia in the coming weeks. BP has shipped its oil overseas before, but it’s been decades since it was on a tanker built and managed outside the U.S.
Warm ocean water leads to heavy rain in Alaska
It’s been unusually wet across a large section of the state this summer.
Moody’s downgrades Alaska credit rating; fourth downgrade this year
Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Alaska’s credit rating for the second time in six months, citing the state’s massive budget deficit. It’s the fourth time since January the state has been downgraded by one of the three major ratings agencies.
Video: How the landfill in Anchorage harvests gas from trash
Hundreds of landfills across the lower-48 have turned their decomposing trash piles into a source of energy. So far, there’s only one project in Alaska harnessing the power of trash to produce gas.
Governor appoints Hollis French to oil and gas commission
Hollis French, a Democrat from Anchorage, served in the Alaska Senate for 12 years. Now he’ll oversee regulation of the state’s oil and gas industry.
North Slope records fall with ‘unprecedented warmth’
Two all time temperature records were set on the North Slope on July 13th and 14th. Deadhorse hit a record high of 85 on July 13th, exceeding the previous record by two degrees. The next day, Kuparuk recorded a temperature of 86 degrees.
Lawmakers press on North Slope marketing request
“If I were Wal-Mart and I walked into Kmart and said, ‘Hey I need to know your marketing plan for the next six years,’ they would throw you out the door,” said Rep. Craig Johnson, a Republican from Anchorage.