According to NOAA, over 180 gray whales have washed up dead along the West Coast so far this year. But each new specimen adds a little more clarity for scientists.
Climate Change
Juneau begins to feel budget veto impacts
As the Alaska Legislature continues to grapple with the state’s budget, Juneau is dealing with the direct and indirect impacts of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes.
Could climate change research in Alaska be put on ice?
The University of Alaska system is known as a leader in climate change research, studying melting permafrost to shrinking glaciers. But there’s growing uncertainty about the future of such projects with steep cuts to state funding.
Flood warning cancelled after Saturday’s jökulhlaup releases water into Mendenhall lake and river
National Weather Service says Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River water levels crested at 8.62 feet late Sunday, a little earlier than expected and just below minor flood stage
Record warm water likely gave Kuskokwim salmon heart attacks
Never-before-seen temperatures in the Kuskokwim River likely sent salmon into cardiac arrest. Salmon don’t function well past 70 degrees, and the water had pushed just above that limit.
Jökulhlaup watch: Scientists, Juneau officials waiting for Suicide Basin’s glacial dam release
There’s enough water in Suicide Basin to fill an estimated 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This year, as in previous years, that water could eventually flow under Mendenhall Glacier and flood Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River.
Add krill and mussels to the list of unusual marine deaths in Alaska
Residents from two Northwest Alaska villages say they found large numbers of dead mussels and krill washed up along shores in June, contributing to fears that record warm waters may be causing a wide range of ecosystem changes.
At Portage Glacier, business boom follows glacial recession
Portage Glacier has receded a lot. And employees are seeing the changes first hand. What does that mean for a company whose business is based on this particular piece of snow and ice?
Homes near Akiak’s eroding riverbank need to move. But some people choose to stay.
Akiak lost a mile-long stretch of riverbank to erosion in May. Six houses are now within 100 feet of the river and need to be moved — and soon. But some residents don’t want to move.
As sea ice changes in a warming Arctic, new challenges for polar bear research
“There’s probably going to be a greater amount of uncertainty with some of the information that we’re able to provide, because it’s simply not going to be as precise as it used to be,” said wildlife biologist Todd Atwood.